Justice Secretary

Ditch plans to axe juries, MPs tell Lammy

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/ditch-plans-axe-juries-mps-tell-lammy

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy leaves following a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street, London, December 2, 2025

DITCH plans to axe jury trials, Labour MPs told David Lammy today as the Justice Secretary presented his plans to attack ancient liberties.

And the dangers of judge-only trials were highlighted as 17 Labour MPs wrote to him over the unexplained decision to switch the judge hearing the Palestine Action case, the Star can report.

Mr Lammy announced that cases where a sentence is likely to be three years’ imprisonment or less will be heard by a judge.

And he ended the right defendants have in certain cases to opt for the sort of trial they would prefer. Magistrates will be given powers to impose longer sentences of up to 18 months, possibly rising to two years.

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Continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/ditch-plans-axe-juries-mps-tell-lammy

UK Labour Party Foreign Secretary David Lammy repeatedly heckled at a speech to the Fabian Society over his and the Labour Party's support for and complicity in Israel's genocide of Gaza.
UK Labour Party Foreign Secretary David Lammy repeatedly heckled at a speech to the Fabian Society over his and the Labour Party’s support for and complicity in Israel’s genocide of Gaza.
Continue ReadingDitch plans to axe juries, MPs tell Lammy

Greens react to proposals to scrap jury trials

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UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says that UK is suspeding 30 of 350 arms licences to Israel. He also confirms the UK government's support for Israel's Gaza genocide and the UK government and military's active participation in genocide.
UK Justice Secretary and formerly Foreign Secretary David Lammy says that UK is suspeding 30 of 350 arms licences to Israel. He also confirms the UK government’s support for Israel’s Gaza genocide and the UK government and military’s active participation in genocide.
Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion Siân Berry. Image by Kelly Hill, Wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0.
Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion Siân Berry. Image by Kelly Hill, Wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0.

Reacting to proposals from the Justice Secretary, David Lammy, to massively restrict the right to a jury trial, Green MP Siân Berry said:

“This is yet another assault on our rights from an increasingly authoritarian government. This proposal would scrap a fundamental cornerstone of our justice system which has been in place for 800 years. 

“For David Lammy to describe the right to trial by jury as ‘not a right’ is a disgrace. The Government must fund our justice system properly – not make people pay for Labour and Conservative austerity with their fundamental rights. The Green Party will fight these proposals all the way.”

Continue ReadingGreens react to proposals to scrap jury trials

Justice Secretary slammed for interfering in judicial independence

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/mahmood-interference-slammed-abbott

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood during the official opening of HMP Millsike – the new Category C jail in Yorkshire which will deliver 1,500 prison places, March 27, 2025

JUSTICE Secretary Shabana Mahmood was slammed for interfering in judicial independence today after she blocked new sentencing guidelines designed to reduce racial disparities.

Rebuking the minister, left MP Diane Abbott said there have been multiple reports highlighitng how black and ethnic minority people are treated unfairly by the justice system.

She said: “There is a reason why the Sentencing Council is independent. It was made a statutory independent body to avoid even the appearance of ministerial interference.

“This is not the United States. Our political system, our judicial system, are entirely separate.”

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/mahmood-interference-slammed-abbott

Continue ReadingJustice Secretary slammed for interfering in judicial independence