Keir Starmer is currently under the threat of a potential revolt from displeased Labour MPs regarding proposals to decrease the number of cases going to jury trials.
Almost 40 Labour MPs have jointly written a letter to the Prime Minister criticizing the plans as “unwise” and urging Mr. Starmer to reconsider his approach. The letter, led by Labour MP Karl Turner, expressed concerns that limiting the right to jury trials would not effectively address the backlog of cases in the criminal justice system.
Signatories, including prominent figures like Diane Abbott, emphasized that reducing access to jury trials for criminals facing sentences of less than three years, as proposed by Justice Secretary David Lammy, could lead to a significant decrease in cases going to juries.
While the government argues that reducing jury trials is necessary to tackle the overwhelming backlog of nearly 80,000 cases, the MPs suggested alternative solutions. They recommended investing in more judges, increasing court sitting days, and improving prisoner transport efficiency to address the crisis in the courts system.
The MPs highlighted that although the government plans to add 5,000 more sitting days, there remains a significant shortfall in addressing the backlog effectively. They stressed the importance of protecting the fundamental right to a jury trial and urged the government to present a more credible proposal that does not compromise this essential aspect of the justice system.
In response to the MPs’ concerns, Keir Starmer affirmed in the Commons that jury trials would continue to play a crucial role in serious criminal cases. This development comes after the Prime Minister faced a major rebellion in July over benefit cuts, indicating growing discontent within the Labour party over government policies.
