Labour’s Justice Secretary David Lammy is under fire from his own party as his proposals to cut the number of jury trials in England and Wales face mounting criticism.
Some MPs are warning that the plan, designed to tackle a Crown Court backlog of 80,000 cases, may be politically toxic.
Jokes and Jabs in the House
Karl Turner, the Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East, didn’t hold back.
Speaking to the Politico ‘London Playbook’ newsletter, he joked that Lammy might be so desperate to win back support that he could offer MPs “a brand new family car and a fortnight in Marbella.”
Turner described the jury trial reforms as “finished” and warned that continued pushing could cost Lammy his job.
Turner also took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to pile on the criticism.
He urged Labour leader Keir Starmer to step in, saying Lammy’s proposals “cannot work” and that halving jury trials would be disastrous for justice.
Cross-Party Frustration
Turner has even found unlikely allies. He posted a photo with Tory MP David Davis at a parliamentary event opposing the jury plan, quipping that when forced to “defeat your own government to save it from itself,” it’s hard to imagine a better partner.
Government Considers Softening the Plan
Reports earlier this week suggest the Government may partially backtrack to prevent a full-scale rebellion.
Instead of permanent cuts, ministers could pledge to review the reforms after the backlog is reduced, rather than implementing irreversible changes, according to Sky News’ Politics at Sam and Anne’s podcast.
Lammy’s current proposals would allow some cases that traditionally went to jury trial to be handled by a single judge in “swift courts” or by magistrates.
Justice minister Sarah Sackman recently confirmed in the Commons that jury trials might be scrapped even without the existing backlog, arguing that a new system would “make better use of jurors’ time.”
Legal Community Pushes Back
The remarks sparked harsh criticism from criminal barristers, who accused Labour of “taking an axe to the criminal justice system” without evidence that the reforms would succeed.
Turner, a former barrister himself, has vowed to oppose the measures at every stage, and he was the only Labour MP to vote against the Government in a recent Commons debate calling for the plan’s rejection.
Government Stands Firm
Despite the backlash, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson emphasized that speculation about a U-turn does little to address the delays facing victims.
The spokesperson said the reforms are grounded in Sir Brian Leveson’s independent review and aim to modernize the courts for the 21st century, noting that criminal trials today are far more complex and time-consuming than two decades ago.
The Government intends to remove jury trials for offences with likely prison sentences of three years or less, though legislation has yet to be formally introduced.
What’s Next
With divisions within Labour and growing pressure from legal professionals, the jury reform proposals remain highly contentious.
Whether Lammy can push the plan through—or will be forced to compromise—remains one of the key political dramas unfolding in Westminster this year.
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