- Justice Secretary David Lammy is defending contentious proposals within the Courts and Tribunals Bill, aimed at addressing the significant backlog in the criminal justice system.
- The government's plans include restricting access to jury trials for certain offences and empowering magistrates to impose longer sentences, increasing the maximum from 12 to 18 months.
- Mr Lammy argues these changes are vital for the system's continued operation, stating that it has “fallen behind the world it now serves” and expressing hope for a reduced backlog by the next general election.
- The proposals face a significant rebellion from Labour MPs, led by Karl Turner, and strong opposition from thousands of legal professionals, including the Bar Council, who argue they erode constitutional principles.
- Critics contend that underfunding, not juries, is the primary cause of the crisis, and that judge-only trials offer negligible gains while posing substantial risks to the justice system.
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