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Prime Minister criticised over plans to scrap some jury trials.
Summary
Labour MP Karl Turner broke the party whip and criticised Sir Keir Starmer after the Government proposed removing the right to jury trials for offences likely to carry sentences of three years or less; the Government says it will also limit appeals from magistrates to crown court, and legislation has not yet been introduced.
Content
A Labour MP, Karl Turner, publicly opposed the government's proposal to remove the right to a jury trial in some cases and broke the party whip to vote against the plans. He expressed strong disapproval to party leaders and singled out Justice Secretary David Lammy in his criticism. The Government has said the change would apply to offences with a likely prison sentence of three years or less and that appeals to the crown court from magistrates would be limited. The measures follow a review by Sir Brian Leveson, and the Government has not yet brought forward legislation.
Key facts:
- Karl Turner, a former barrister and the Kingston-upon-Hull MP, broke the Labour whip and was the only Labour MP to vote against the proposals at that stage.
- Mr Turner said he had contacted Sir Keir Starmer to express strong disapproval and criticised Justice Secretary David Lammy's role in the proposals.
- The Government has announced it would drop jury trials for offences likely to carry sentences of three years or less and would limit the right to appeal magistrates' verdicts to the crown court.
- The measures are presented as following Sir Brian Leveson's review; legislation to enact the changes has not yet been introduced.
Summary:
Mr Turner's vote and public criticism highlight visible dissent within Labour on the proposed changes to jury trials. The government has outlined the scope of the changes but has not yet introduced legislation to enact them. Undetermined at this time.
