Pub trivia: Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. Gosh that's interesting already isn't it? But wait until you cop a load of the even more interesting facts below.
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Fact
The Gunpowder Plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 was planned by a chap called Robert Catesby. Guy Fawkes was merely a low-level conspirator put in charge of stashing the explosives in the Parliament cellar.
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Fact
When the Queen leaves Buckingham Palace to attend the State Opening of Parliament every year, an MP is ceremonially "held hostage" at the Palace to ensure that the monarch isn't kidnapped or executed by any treasonous MPs.
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Fact
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the only MP allowed to drink booze in the House of Commons, and only during the Budget speech.
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Fact
The Houses of Parliament were almost completely destroyed by a fire in 1834. The building we know today, despite looking pretty ancient, was completed in 1870. That said, the oldest surviving bit – Westminster Hall – dates back to 1097.
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Fact
Big Ben is the name of the bell, not the clock tower – which is simply called the Clock Tower. And if you want to get technical, the bell is properly called the Great Bell. Big Ben is just a long-standing nickname whose origins remain unclear.
Danny Wallace interview
His book Yes Man has been turned into a Hollywood film, so we caught up with Scottish-born comic Danny Wallace for all the glitzy goss.
Dara O'Briain interview
Suavely suited and booted, Irish wit Dara O'Briain's tongue is as sharp as a jagged razor blade. We chatted to the big man (he's 6' 4'') about college, cartoons and off-the-cuffery.
