Quote: Jennie @ August 22 2013, 8:02 PM BSTHow I wish this was just a joke:
Unfortunately, we have a madman at the helm. A madman who doesn't understand that British justice cannot be bought and sold.
Yes, I had heard there was some justifiable uneasiness.
On balance, I prefer it to any prospect of, say, the McDonalds Pennine Way.
Quote: zooo @ August 22 2013, 6:43 PM BSTWhy go straight to an atrocity as a comparison? Wanting to get rid of your willy is hardly an atrocity.
I think some men would disagree with that. Circumcision fine, but lopping the thing off, or getting it spliced, inverted and inserted to make a vagina, well it's a free world. I have a few post-op tranny friends, most of whom got the surgery done in Thailand - much cheaper than Europe. I am too tall and the wrong build to ever look like a woman, despite the long hair. 
Plus you're covered in feathers.
Quote: Horseradish @ August 22 2013, 8:05 PM BSTYes, I had heard there was some justifiable uneasiness.
On balance, I prefer it to any prospect of, say, the McDonalds Pennine Way.
But privatising the Pennines would not lead to innocent people in prison.
My loathing of Chris Grayling knows no end. He wishes to deprive the right of a defendant to choose their solicitor, despite choice being the new thing in every other area of life. His rationale? Those charged with criminal offences are too thick to pick.
He is a truly dangerous man.
Quote: Jennie @ August 22 2013, 7:47 PM BSTWe used to play this game in advocacy classes at law school. Person would be given piece of paper with a word/phrase on it just before they stood up. If you didn't get it in, you would be buying drinks for the rest of the class in the pub later.
That does sound like fun. Years ago I worked at a newspaper where the subeditors would compete to see who could surreptitiously insert the most Beatles song titles into the paper on a given night, or insert coded obscenities via the first letter of each paragraph in an article. Terribly unprofessional.
The rationale is that by bringing in PCT it will drive down costs, and therefore the legal aid bill.
Unfortunately, it'll also drive down quality. When your choice of solicitor is between Stobarts and Tescos, maybe the general public will finally get off their arse and stop drinking the Kool-Aid.
Quote: AndyGilder @ August 22 2013, 8:23 PM BSTThe rationale is that by bringing in PCT it will drive down costs, and therefore the legal aid bill.
Unfortunately, it'll also drive down quality. When your choice of solicitor is between Stobarts and Tescos, maybe the general public will finally get off their arse and stop drinking the Kool-Aid.
Ooohh... Are you one of the chosen too?
You sound a lot like a lawyer.
And since when did absence of choice drive UP quality? I hate you Grayling.
Quote: Jennie @ August 22 2013, 8:18 PM BSTBut privatising the Pennines would not lead to innocent people in prison.
My loathing of Chris Grayling knows no end. He wishes to deprive the right of a defendant to choose their solicitor, despite choice being the new thing in every other area of life. His rationale? Those charged with criminal offences are too thick to pick.
He is a truly dangerous man.
One of the odd aspects of current life is that some of the worst in power like Grayling started out in the SDP. It makes even 32 years ago look very different from how it seemed.
I accept what you say as you've more knowledge of the legal system. But come the day we have to look at adverts for KFC in the sky, we will know for sure that everyone's been confined. And footpaths are similar.
Quote: Horseradish @ August 22 2013, 8:30 PM BSTOne of the odd aspects of current life is that some of the worst in power like Grayling started out in the SDP. It makes even 32 years ago look very different from how it seemed.
I didn't know that! That is very interesting.
The problem with Grayling is that he has no respect for lawyers and fundementally believes that the world would be a better place without us. Which is probably true.
There was an article in the Metro the other day about how he thought victims of serious offences should be cross examined "months before the trial" so they could "get on with their recovery" without being subject to "bullying tactics of counsel".
This drove me insane.
1) "Get on with their recovery?" What happened to innocent until proven guilty?
2) Cross examination before the Crown have served the papers in the case. Yeah, that'll work.
3) "Bullying tactics by counsel". Arrrggghhh! I had to cross examine a six year old last year, on a desperately unpleasant allegation. But, I am trained. I did it delicately and properly. She told the witness care woman afterwards that "the lady had been nice to me" which made me feel so good. I do not bully, because I am competent.
Grayling's Proposals will lead to less competence, which will lead to more mistakes and more wasted money.
Quote: Jennie @ August 22 2013, 8:38 PM BSTI didn't know that! That is very interesting.
The problem with Grayling is that he has no respect for lawyers and fundementally believes that the world would be a better place without us. Which is probably true.
There was an article in the Metro the other day about how he thought victims of serious offences should be cross examined "months before the trial" so they could "get on with their recovery" without being subject to "bullying tactics of counsel".
This drove me insane.
1) "Get on with their recovery?" What happened to innocent until proven guilty?
2) Cross examination before the Crown have served the papers in the case. Yeah, that'll work.
3) "Bullying tactics by counsel". Arrrggghhh! I had to cross examine a six year old last year, on a desperately unpleasant allegation. But, I am trained. I did it delicately and properly. She told the witness care woman afterwards that "the lady had been nice to me" which made me feel so good. I do not bully, because I am competent.
Grayling's Proposals will lead to less competence, which will lead to more mistakes and more wasted money.
Andrew "I love the NHS" Lansley was SDP too!
Quote: Jennie @ August 22 2013, 8:24 PM BSTOoohh... Are you one of the chosen too?
You sound a lot like a lawyer.
And since when did absence of choice drive UP quality? I hate you Grayling.
No, just an innocent passer-by Ma'am 
Quote: AndyGilder @ August 22 2013, 8:42 PM BSTNo, just an innocent passer-by Ma'am
You have a lawyery vibe to you.
I can't think of a higher compliment
Is there any job left that can't be ground down, deskilled and micromanaged.
Be glad Jennie you've still got a job. By next Barristers will be replaced by G4S legal services; with your role being performed by a school leaver with a NVQ3 in Justification.
Quote: sootyj @ August 22 2013, 8:57 PM BSTBarristers will be replaced by G4S legal services; with your role being performed by a school leaver with a NVQ3 in Justification.
I give it 18 months until this is a reality. The suggestion is a three day residential course to learn what took me five years. Obviously I'm just thick
Heh teachers are being replaced by soldiers with 2 years experience, prison officers by G4S jobs for all.
Soon G4S will be manning our nuclear submarines, probably with North Korean sailors on 6 month zero hour contract.
Some times it feels like there is a real contempt for knowledge and experience.
Except in the field of writing idiotic text messages and wedding speeches.
That still requires a professional.