"A group of 39 Labour MPs have now signed a letter urging the prime minister to reverse the plans, which they describe as an ineffective way of dealing with the crippling backlog in cases in our criminal justice system. The drastic restriction of the right to trial by jury is not a silver bullet. To limit a fundamental right for what will make a marginal difference to the backlog, if any, is madness and will cause more problems than it solves, the letter added,"
"Karl Turner, the Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East, who is among those coordinating the letter, said on Thursday that the plans were unworkable and unpopular, citing the majority of people who said they were against the idea during a consultation in Scotland. He said Lammy ought to know the causes of the backlog in cases being heard, adding that it was the private security company Serco not delivering defendants to court on time."
The justice secretary plans to move thousands of trials in England and Wales from juries to judges and magistrates to tackle a record court backlog. The government and Sir Brian Leveson argue the change addresses delays that harm victims, witnesses and defendants. Thirty-nine Labour MPs have signed a letter describing the measure as ineffective and warning that curtailing the right to jury trial will cause more problems than it solves. MPs proposed alternatives such as increasing court sitting days. Coordinating MP Karl Turner called the proposals unworkable, blamed private contractor Serco for delays, and said more MPs oppose the plan.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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