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Labor MPs think Keir StarmerThe next big U-turn will be plans to scrap jury trials, with one opposition member warning he is “absolutely confident” it will be defeated.
MP for Kingston upon Hull Carl Turner said MPs would “go absolutely crazy” if the Conservatives put forward their much-criticized plans and called for a meeting with the Prime Minister.
“We are very angry with the government, with the Prime Minister and with David Lamy and I have said to the Prime Minister that I want to discuss this with him face to face and I want him to instruct Lamy to stop and think about it again.” times radio.
“People are being locked out. That’s not in the manifesto. If this was a Conservative government doing this then Labor MPs including Keir Starmer and David Lammy would be absolutely mad.”
“I’m absolutely confident that if they’re stupid enough to introduce this legislation in the form of a Courts Bill, which will likely be later this year, I’m confident we’ll defeat it.”
Several Labor MPs said privately independent they believe in restrictive plans jury trial The most serious crimes will be “quietly abandoned”.
Earlier this week, The Independent first reported that Rachel Reeves planned to abandon plans to end pub business tax relief.
The plan, announced by Deputy Prime Minister David Lamy last year, is aimed at helping end the backlog in courts since the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
It is based on recommendations by retired judge Sir Brian Leveson and will include temporary “fast-track courts” where decisions are made by judges and greater use of the magistrates’ courts.
Only the most serious crimes, such as murder and rape, retain mandatory jury trials.
Cases with potential prison sentences of less than three years will be moved to judges, which is expected to be faster. Lengthy fraud and financial cases will also be moved to judges, freeing up jurors.
But the plans have sparked fierce opposition, including from Labor MPs.
The government has now postponed any vote on the plan until October after the next King’s Speech in May at the earliest.
One MP said: “It looks like the whole thing will be quietly abandoned.”
Another senior MP said: “I would be surprised if they do continue to attack jury trials. My understanding is that any legislation on this issue is earmarked for October, which is a long way off from a political perspective. I think they will abandon it – quietly or otherwise.”
The issue echoes last summer’s welfare rebellion, when plans to cut the bill by £5bn were abandoned to prevent defeat in the House of Commons by angry Labor backbenchers.
Ministers defended the proposals during an opposition day debate called by the Conservatives last week, but Labor MPs again objected, including Mr Turner, who noted he had never been rebel before.
Justice Minister Sarah Sackman told the House of Commons: “Victims have been waiting years for justice – a year or more in the backlog of more than 20,000 outstanding cases at the Crown Court. Justice delayed is justice denied.”
“No one is defending the status quo, but no government to date has been brave enough to take the necessary action to find solutions. I firmly believe that politics is an agent of change – that’s why I left the legal profession to enter politics. When we have a crisis, we see the opportunity, find a plan and then solve it – we make it better.”
However, she acknowledged that impact assessments would be carried out before the legislation was introduced and “MPs will have the opportunity to scrutinize” the plans.