𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

David Lammy was given a brutal nickname by Robert Jenrick during an interview on TalkTV. Speaking to host Jeremy Kyle, the Shadow Lord Chancellor slammed the Deputy Prime Minister over the removal of trial by jury from thousands of cases. Jenrick labelled Lammy the “Homer Simpson of British politics”, adding: “You can see the cogs turning in his head as he reaches for another ridiculous thing to say.” Kyle said back: “If that man can become Deputy Prime Minister, I think it’s frightening.” The pair were discussing Lammy’s recent radical plans, which were announced earlier this week, aimed at reducing the number of jury trials across England and Wales.

Yesterday, Lammy defended plans to limit jury trials to the most serious offences, such as rape and murder. The Justice Secretary said in the Commons: “In England and Wales, magistrates have long done the vast majority of criminal cases. Today, magistrates hear about 90 per cent of criminal cases.

“In fact, only three per cent of trial cases in England and Wales will ever go before a jury, and almost three quarters of all trials that go into the crown court will continue to be heard by them under our changes.”

Lammy said the new system would deal with cases a fifth faster than jury trials. He said it was necessary, as current projections indicate that case loads will reach 100,000 by 2028.

He added: “I will create new swift courts within the crown court with a judge alone deciding verdicts in trial of either way cases with a likely sentence of three years or less as Sir Brian (Leveson) recommends.

“Sir Brian estimates that they will deliver justice at least 20 per cent faster than jury trials, and whilst jury deliberations remain confidential, judges provide reasoning for their verdicts in open courts, so this will hardwire transparency in our new approach.”

However, the radical plans have been met with mixed reception. Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Jess Brown-Fuller told the House of Commons yesterday: “The announcement today of the government’s plan to reduce the use of trial by jury would be an historic upheaval of our court system, with profound consequences. But the Justice Secretary has not stood up and argued in favor of judge only trials on their own terms.” 

What’s more, the Green Party has criticised the plans to restrict jury trials. 

Green MP Sian Berry said in a statement: “The focus on victims’ rights is appreciated, but this Labour government is taking the wrong steps to try to serve us better, and laying the groundwork for further crackdowns on dissent, whistleblowing and protest if it removes juries from so many charges that have state or corporate victims.”