David Lammy braced for major rebellion from Labour MPs over plan to limit jury trials
David Lammy faces a showdown with Labor rebel leaders over his plans to deny thousands of defendants the right to a jury trial.
Up to 65 Labor MPs are believed to be ready to rebel against the justice secretary’s plans ahead of the first vote on the controversial bill on Tuesday.
MP Karl Turner, a former Starmer loyalist, is leading calls for a rethink.
HoweverIndependent It also learned that former deputy chancellor Angela Rayner was among those considering voting against the plans at later stages unless she received assurances about safeguards in the legal system.
A source close to Ms Rayner said: “Not only does she support the government on this issue, she picks and chooses the things she turns down because she doesn’t want to jump on every bandwagon.”
“But he wants to hear assurances about safeguards before deciding how to vote in jury trials.”
Mr Turner said Independent It would be “misleading” to say that there are currently enough rebels to pass the bill “at this stage”. It is expected to pass the first hurdle with the second reading vote on Tuesday.
However, it is believed that the bill could face difficulties if MPs submit changes to subsequent committee and report stages. Even if he eventually clears the House of Commons, he is likely to run into trouble in the House of Lords.
Group members said they were not bound by the Salisbury Convention as they had to eventually accept the legislation as it was not included in Labour’s election manifesto.
The proposals would eliminate the right to a jury trial for all crimes that carry a maximum penalty of up to three years in prison.
Mr Turner said: “This is an utterly disgraceful place to be. I am devastated that it is my government that is doing this.”
The former lawyer added that he expects the bill to be discussed outside parliament. He said: “When the inevitable judicial review succeeds it will inevitably lead to another unhappy, costly end for this government.
“The Law Society and the Bar Council will seek advice from lawyers specialized in this matter, if it happens. If this ridiculous proposal is not objected to, I will eat my horsehair legal wig, which I have not worn since 2010.”
Mr Lammy said he was willing to meet with colleagues opposed to reform but insisted the courts needed to be modernised.
In a speech defending the reforms last month, Mr Lammy said: “Jury trials now take twice as long as they did 25 years ago.
“And we must not forget that no part of our justice system has stood still since Magna Carta. Governments of all stripes have adjusted the venues of trials to meet the needs of their times.”
“Let’s not forget that governments have changed the threshold for crimes that previously went before a jury.
“Margaret Thatcher reclassified crimes, including taking a motor vehicle without permission, and raised the threshold for criminal damage so that these offenses were no longer subject to juries.
“What we propose changes the jury threshold. I do not change the fundamental right to a fair trial, which is absolute.”
