Burnham to revisit plan to curb jury trials

Andy Burnham, the prime minister, has voiced concerns regarding proposals to reduce the number of jury trials in England and Wales. He stated his intention to thoroughly examine the plans, which were introduced by former justice secretary David Lammy. Lammy had argued that limiting jury trials would help alleviate the significant backlog in Crown Court cases.

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My instincts are that we need to find ways of not reducing access to jury trial.

However, the proposal has faced strong opposition from various quarters, including most barristers and many Labour Members of Parliament. These critics argue that replacing jury trials with single judges in certain cases could erode a fundamental right and undermine the integrity of the justice system. Burnham indicated his instinct is to find ways to avoid reducing access to jury trials.

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I want to get inside these issues before I confirm any of the plans that I inherited and, in fact, probably looking for changes.

Burnham's comments come as the proposal is set to be incorporated into law within the next few months as part of the Courts and Tribunals Bill. He likened his approach to reviewing inherited policies to the recent pause on an early release scheme for prisoners, emphasizing his desire to understand issues deeply before confirming or altering plans. He also mentioned initiating the process to readmit Hull East MP Karl Turner, a vocal critic of the jury trial plan, into the Parliamentary Labour Party.

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I've asked the chief whip to speak to Karl and, sort of, agree a process that can be taken forward.

Karl Turner, a former barrister, was one of 38 MPs who signed a letter opposing Lammy's plans, calling them a "stupid idea." Turner believes his suspension from the Labour whip was linked to his criticism of the jury trial policy, rather than his behavior towards colleagues. Under Lammy's original proposals, cases where a convicted defendant would face up to three years in jail could be decided by a single judge instead of a jury. This measure was intended to address the record 80,000-case backlog in Crown Courts, where delays mean some trials may not occur until 2030.

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I don't think I have ever known offences affecting so many people and so deeply.