Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has mounted a robust defence of the Government's contentious plans to scrap jury trials for thousands of cases, even as a Labour backbencher threatened to trigger a by-election over the issue.
Backlash and By-Election Threat
The proposed overhaul of the UK's creaking justice system would see judge-only 'swift courts' handle cases where a defendant faces a likely sentence of three years or less. This excludes serious crimes like murder and rape. The move has sparked a significant backlash, with senior lawyers and dozens of Labour MPs voicing opposition.
The rebellion within Labour ranks is being led by Hull East MP Karl Turner, a former shadow attorney general and criminal barrister. Mr Turner, who last week voted against the proposals in the Commons, has warned he is prepared to step down and force a by-election in his seat, where he held a majority of under 4,000.
He told The Sunday Times his stance was based on personal principle, recalling a time when he was wrongly accused as an antiques dealer and opted for a jury trial, which saw the case dismissed. "When I say this matters to me, it really matters to me," he stated.
Lammy's 'Life-Changing' Defence
In response, Justice Secretary David Lammy has insisted the reforms are essential. Writing for The Mirror after observing a similar system in Canada, he argued the changes would be transformative for victims stuck in a delayed system.
"I heard from judges who said these trials were much faster than those heard by juries - sometimes cutting trial lengths in half. For victims, that difference is life-changing," Mr Lammy said. He warned that without action, there could be nearly 120,000 cases waiting in crown courts in England and Wales by 2030.
"Canada shows there is a better way. This government has the guts to take it," he added. The plans, which follow a review by Sir Brian Leveson, would see the proportion of cases going to a jury halve from around 3% to 1.5%.
Legal Opposition and Systemic Crisis
The Government's proposals have been met with fierce criticism from legal experts. Last month, Brett Dixon, vice president of the Law Society of England and Wales, said: "The government’s proposals go too far in eroding our fundamental right to be judged by a jury of our own peers."
However, the government has found support from Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman, who acknowledged the plan challenges tradition but highlighted a system in crisis. "Our court system has been turned into an endurance test that breaks the very people it is meant to serve," she told The Mirror, citing rape survivors facing five-year waits for justice.
With 39 Labour MPs having written to the Prime Minister in opposition and legislation yet to be tabled, the battle over this fundamental pillar of British justice is set to intensify.
