Burnham considers reversing plan to scrap some jury trials
The British prime minister is weighing a review of the previous administration's controversial proposal to limit jury trials in England and Wales.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The prime minister states his instinct is against reducing access to jury trials
- The initial proposal was pushed by former justice secretary David Lammy under Keir Starmer
- The policy was slated to become law through the upcoming Courts and Tribunals Bill
- Legal professionals and Labour MPs heavily criticized the plan for undermining justice
The UK prime minister has revealed during a visit to Sheffield that he wants to examine in detail the proposal to scrap certain jury trials, a policy originally put forward under Sir Keir Starmer's government by former justice secretary David Lammy, whom Burnham has since dismissed. The contentious proposal is scheduled to become law within the next few months as part of the broader Courts and Tribunals Bill.
Lammy had previously argued that reducing the number of jury trials would help tackle the massive backlog in Crown Court cases. However, critics including the majority of barristers and numerous Labour MPs warned that the scheme would undermine the justice system. Speaking directly to reporters, the prime minister stated that his instincts strongly suggest finding ways to avoid reducing access to jury trials.
Context and Background: The crisis of court backlogs in the UK legal system has placed immense administrative pressure on the Crown Court network. Jury trials represent a foundational constitutional safeguard in British common law, balancing judicial authority against state power. Consequently, curtailing the jury system to achieve administrative efficiency sparks intense debate over the compromise between swift case resolution and fundamental citizen rights.
Under Lammy's framework, juries in England and Wales would be replaced by a single judge in proceedings where a convicted defendant faces imprisonment of up to three years. The former justice secretary maintained this could alleviate the Crown Court backlog, which has climbed to a record-breaking 80,000 cases—delays so severe that defendants charged today might not face trial until 2030.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Kirsty Brimelow KC, head of the Bar Council representing more than 18,000 barristers, stated she had petitioned Burnham to urge him to step back from the jury reduction path pursued by the previous administration. She argued that evidence demonstrates cutting jury trials is unnecessary for backlog reduction and could prove counterproductive.
"Examination of the evidence shows that reducing jury trials is not required to reduce the backlog of cases and, in fact, could be counter-productive."
Kirsty Brimelow KC
Additionally, the prime minister has initiated the process to readmit Hull East MP Karl Turner into the Parliamentary Labour Party. Turner had his party whip suspended in March by Sir Keir over uncollegiate behavior, having been one of the most prominent parliamentary critics of the jury trial restrictions. Meanwhile, Conservative shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy had previously urged Labour MPs to join opposition members in voting against the changes, emphasizing that juries serve as a vital safeguard between the citizen and the state.
Source: BBC Politics
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