Labour MPs Oppose Limiting Jury Trials Amid Backlog Concerns
Thirty-nine Labour MPs, mainly from the left including Diane Abbott, Vicky Foxcroft, and Dan Carden, have warned Prime Minister Keir Starmer that they will not support proposals to limit jury trials. These MPs, associated with the Tribune and Blue Labour groups, argue that limiting jury trials is not a silver bullet for addressing the court backlog and could undermine a fundamental right.
They suggest alternative measures to reduce the backlog, such as increasing sitting days, hiring more Recorders (part-time judges), and encouraging the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider trying some backlog cases on lower charges.
Justice Secretary David Lammy announced on 3 December 2025 a plan to scrap jury trials for offenses likely to carry less than three years' imprisonment. This measure removes the right to a jury trial in cases that could be dealt with by magistrates or a judge-only Crown Court. Keir Starmer emphasized that jury trials already make up a small proportion of all trials and remain a cornerstone for serious cases.
The context includes the Leveson review initiated in December 2024, with Leveson urging fundamental reforms in July 2025 to avoid total system collapse, including increasing out-of-court settlements like cautions.
Lammy warned that the backlog could reach 100,000 cases by 2028, up from nearly 78,000 currently. The delays have significant impacts, with about six in ten rape victims withdrawing their cases due to these delays.
