Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has indicated he will not reverse plans to scrap some jury trials, despite intense criticism from legal experts, MPs, and campaigners. Speaking during a visit to China, Starmer argued the reforms are essential to delivering justice for victims of violence against women and girls, who face long delays in the court system.
Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions, said the current backlog of 80,000 cases means some victims are waiting until 2030 for their day in court. He described the issue as a 'fundamental argument of principle', vowing to do everything in his power to ensure victims receive justice. 'I have given my word to campaigners on violence against women and girls, and to victims, that I will do everything within my power to make sure they get justice,' he said.
The reforms, proposed by Sir Brian Leveson, include judge-only trials for complex fraud cases and a new criminal court where judges hear cases alone. Justice Secretary David Lammy is pushing ahead with the plans despite a report from the Institute for Government last week suggesting they would save less than 2% of time in crown courts. Critics, including dozens of Labour MPs and peers, argue the changes undermine a fundamental principle of the justice system.
Starmer defended the scale of the changes, noting that 90% of criminal cases are already heard without a jury in magistrates' courts. Of the remaining 10% that go to crown court, 7% result in guilty pleas, meaning only 3% of all cases currently end in jury trials. The reforms will reduce that figure slightly, he said.
The government has conducted its own impact assessment but will not publish it until the bill containing the proposals is ready. Starmer stressed that tackling the backlog is a personal priority, driven by his long-standing work with victims of crime.
