UK: Justice Secretary Faces Labour 'Rebellion' Over Jury Trial Plans

Will this proposed reform deliver faster justice for victims, or erode democratic rights and checks on state power?

Published 21 hours ago

UK: Justice Secretary Faces Labour 'Rebellion' Over Jury Trial Plans

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Above: U.K. Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy leaves Downing Street on Dec. 2, 2025. Image credit: Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

The court system currently faces total collapse with a record backlog about to hit 80,000 cases and victims waiting years for justice while criminals game the system. Swift courts with judge-only trials for sentences under three years will deliver verdicts 20% faster, freeing up juries for the most serious crimes like rape and murder while finally putting victims first.

GOV.UK

Government-critical narrative

Abolishing jury trials for thousands of cases erodes one of England's most ancient democratic traditions and increases public mistrust in a judiciary already at loggerheads with citizens. Juries serve as crucial checks on state power and can prevent unjust prosecutions, yet this government sacrifices fundamental liberty for convenience while judges remain insulated from accountability.

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