Andrew Rosindell MP Warns of Dangerous Future as Lammy Moves to Axe Jury Trials.

David Lammy has introduced plans to allow some criminal cases to be tried without a jury, replacing them with judge-only trials. Andrew Rosindell-the Member of Parliament for Romford, says this move risks weakening a core pillar of British justice.The proposals, introduced by Justice Secretary, would permit certain cases to be decided solely by a judge rather than a jury.

Mr Rosindell MP has hit out at the plan, warning it undermines public confidence in the justice system.

Please see his statement below:

“I was in the House of Commons today, sitting alongside the Shadow Justice Secretary, Robert Jenrick, to demonstrate my opposition to David Lammy’s latest attack on our ancient system of justice in England and the United Kingdom.

The people of Romford can be assured that I strongly oppose the Government’s proposals to scrap jury trials in up to 95% of Crown Court cases. A trial by jury is a fundamental safeguard and one of our ancient British liberties that underpins our justice system.  We cannot see that watered down.

By restricting jury trials to only a narrow category of offences (such as murder, rape and manslaughter), and transferring most serious crimes like complex fraud, serious assault, robbery, and other indictable offences to judge-only hearings, the Government risks undermining a principle rooted in centuries of jurisprudence – a principle that predates even Magna Carta.

Jury trials allow the public to hold the state to account, as well as the accused, and ensure that verdicts reflect the conscience of the community, not just the will of a single state-appointed judge.

It threatens the foundational idea that justice should not only be done, but be seen to be done and not just that, it runs roughshod over the principle that no free man shall be punished except by the lawful judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land.

Such a radical overhaul represents one of the most significant changes to our criminal justice system in generations. I cannot, and will not, support a reform that risks doing lasting damage to our rights as Britons and to the integrity of our courts.”

Andrew Rosindell M.P.

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