Andy Burnham, set to become the next prime minister on July 20, is reportedly considering scrapping the government's controversial plans to curb jury trials. The proposed legislation, championed by current Justice Secretary David Lammy, aims to address the significant backlog in crown court cases by limiting jury trials to those with a potential sentence of three years or more. Cases with shorter potential sentences would be heard by a single judge without a jury.
Lammy's proposals have faced substantial opposition from Labour backbenchers, rival parties, and senior legal professionals. Burnham has publicly expressed reservations about the reforms, previously warning against the removal of "something that's a lynchpin of a fair society." As he prepares to enter Downing Street, sources suggest Burnham intends to remove the provisions related to jury trials from the Courts and Tribunals Bill, allowing the remainder of the legislation to proceed.
Karl Turner, a vocal critic of the proposed changes and the MP for Kingston upon Hull East, has stated that Burnham has been "very supportive" of his campaign against the reforms. Turner has described the plan as "ludicrous" and believes it was developed by officials and ministers who lacked sufficient understanding of the criminal justice system.
In December, Burnham articulated his cautious stance on the proposed curbs, suggesting that while there might be a case for fewer jury trials in specific instances, any such changes should be implemented with broad societal consent. He urged the government at the time to pause and reconsider the proposals.
David Lammy is expected to relinquish his role as Deputy Prime Minister upon Burnham's succession of Keir Starmer, with Lucy Powell widely anticipated to take over the position. The future of Lammy's role within a Burnham administration, whether at the Ministry of Justice or elsewhere in the Cabinet, remains undetermined.