Burnham to revisit plan to curb jury trials
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expressed concerns regarding plans to reduce jury trials in England and Wales, signaling a potential policy reversal. He intends to review the proposals inherited from the previous administration while managing internal party dissent.
Why it matters
The potential reversal of judicial reforms highlights the new government's approach to inherited policies and its relationship with the legal system.
Image source, PA Media Published 16 minutes ago By Brian Wheeler Political reporter Andy Burnham has said he has "concerns" about plans to reduce the number of jury trials in England and Wales and wants to look in detail at the proposals.
The proposals were put forward by former justice secretary David Lammy under Sir Keir Starmer's government.
Lammy had said reducing the number of jury trials would help tackle the huge backlog in Crown Court cases, but critics - including most barristers and many Labour MPs - fear it will undermine the justice system.
Speaking to reporters on a visit to Sheffield, the prime minister said: "My instincts are that we need to find ways of not reducing access to jury trial."
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