Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated that Labour’s controversial proposals to restrict jury trials could be abandoned, marking one of the clearest signs yet that his administration is prepared to break with policies inherited from the previous leadership.
Speaking on Friday, Burnham said he had serious reservations about limiting access to jury trials and suggested changes to the Government’s Courts and Tribunals Bill were likely.
New Prime Minister Questions Existing Justice Plans
The proposed legislation, introduced under former Justice Secretary David Lammy, would significantly reduce the number of criminal cases heard by juries in England and Wales.
Under the plans, offences carrying an expected sentence of three years or less would be decided by a single Crown Court judge, while only more serious cases would continue to be heard before a jury.
The reforms were designed to tackle the growing backlog of Crown Court cases, which has placed increasing pressure on the justice system.
Burnham Cites Hillsborough Experience
Burnham made it clear that his own experiences, particularly those connected to the long campaign for justice over the Hillsborough disaster, have influenced his thinking on the issue.
He said he was uncomfortable with reducing public access to jury trials and wanted to examine the proposals in greater detail before deciding the Government’s next steps.
According to the Prime Minister, his instinct is to find alternative ways of addressing court delays without weakening the role of juries in the criminal justice system.
Justice Policy Faces Wider Review
Burnham compared his approach to the review he has already ordered into Labour’s early prisoner release programme.
The Prime Minister explained that, like the sentencing reforms, inherited justice policies would not automatically proceed without careful reassessment under his leadership.
He suggested his government would not hesitate to alter or reverse previous decisions if necessary.
Prisoner Release Scheme Put on Hold
Alongside reconsidering jury trial reforms, Burnham and newly appointed Justice Secretary Alex Norris are conducting an urgent review of the Government’s early prison release programme.
The review follows public criticism after the release of the men convicted of killing PC Andrew Harper.
Under the Sentencing Act, around 6,000 prisoners had been scheduled for early release from September as part of efforts to reduce overcrowding in prisons.
However, Burnham has delayed the programme until the review has been completed.
Karl Turner Could Return to Labour
The Prime Minister also revealed he has begun discussions that could pave the way for MP Karl Turner to return to the Labour Party.
Burnham confirmed he had asked Chief Whip Anneliese Midgley to work with Turner on an agreed process following his suspension earlier this year.
Turner had been one of the strongest Labour critics of proposals to restrict jury trials and had publicly opposed several justice policies introduced under the party’s previous leadership.
Changes Could Keep Wider Justice Bill Alive
Before entering Downing Street, reports suggested Burnham was considering removing only the sections of the Courts and Tribunals Bill dealing with jury trial restrictions rather than abandoning the legislation entirely.
Such a move would allow the remainder of the Bill to continue through Parliament while avoiding a potentially divisive battle over one of its most controversial measures.
If implemented, the change would represent one of the first significant policy shifts under Burnham’s premiership and signal a new direction for Labour’s approach to criminal justice.
