Justice Secretary David Lammy dropped a heavy hint that a new u-turn is on its way.
Justice Secretary David Lammy dropped heavy hints that another Labour U-turn is on its way, saying he is open to a “conversation” on alternatives to the Government’s proposed changes to jury trials. It suggests that the Government is once again planning to scrap a planned policy in the face of opposition, after previously backing down on winter fuel payments, disability benefits, workers’ rights and more.
The Government has said it will drop jury trials for offences with a likely prison sentence of three years or less in order to address the crown court backlog, which sits at nearly 80,000 outstanding cases, and the ability to appeal a magistrates court verdict to a crown court will also be limited. But the plans have provoked outrage, including among some Labour MPs.
The measures follow a review into the justice system conducted by retired senior judge Sir Brian Leveson. The Government has yet to bring legislation forward.
During an interview on the BBC’s Political Thinking with Nick Robinson podcast, the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary was asked whether he would be open to considering alternative proposals, such as Sir Brian’s recommendation of having two magistrates alongside the judge.
Mr Lammy replied: “Let’s have the conversation, but I’m pretty clear that in the end, I want the backlog coming down.
“Single judge will be more efficient at this level. We still have the magistrates’ court, which, under my proposals, will do more.”
Earlier this month, Labour MP Karl Turner said the Prime Minister “ought to be ashamed of himself” over the proposed changes, which the former barrister argued is “not something the Labour Party believes in”.
The Kingston-upon-Hull MP broke the party whip for the first time since becoming an MP in 2010 to vote against the proposals.
He also sided with former shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, who led the opposition day debate on the Government’s plans, with Mr Turner labelling them “utterly ludicrous” and “unworkable”.
“Karl has got a principal objection. He was a barrister,” Mr Lammy said.
“It’s always sad when you see friends go through the lobbies, and he went through the lobby with Robert Jenrick, and you know, he’s being friendly to Robert Jenrick, and that frustrates and depresses me.”
Meanwhile, Kirsty Brimelow KC, chairwoman of the Bar Council, warned the proposals would “erode” public trust in the criminal justice system.
She urged the Government to focus on measures that would speed up court proceedings rather than gunning for a reform which is controversial and risks “draining” energy and resources needed to tackle the problems.
