Contributions
2,005 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillJuries remain a cornerstone, and I reassure the hon. Gentleman that what we are proposing is about protecting juries. Let us be clear, however, that the Bill is not just about…10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillI know that when my hon. Friend is upset, his baritone deepens—it was not quite as deep today as it has been on other occasions. He will know that I take very seriously the review…10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillMy hon. Friend probably has more lived experience of the criminal justice system than many others in this Chamber. She has been a doughty campaigner on issues for ethnic…10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillI absolutely retain the right hon. Gentleman’s view that juries are a cornerstone of our system. They are fundamental. This Bill is about protecting them. All Governments put…10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillI beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. I am very proud to bring this Bill back before the House, because it will drive long-overdue reform to effectively evolve…10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillI will not, given what has been said by Madam Deputy Speaker. I have to make some progress. We will also reform the appeals process from the magistrates court to the Crown court.…10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillAbsolutely. I also want to refer to the case of Claire Throssell—she is in the Gallery—and her sons, Jack and Paul. Claire’s loss is beyond words. She is with us today, and I know…10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillWe are piloting the national listing scheme at Isleworth Crown court. I refer the hon. Lady to my speech setting out what we are doing in relation to part 2 of Sir Brian Leveson’s…10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillMy hon. Friend is entirely right: 41% are successful, and that, of course, means that 59% are not. With the new permission stage, those 41% would still get through. It seems to me…10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillI am going to make some progress, because I think that otherwise I will upset you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I recognise that some argue that the reform risks eroding trial by jury,…10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillThat is why we have uncapped sitting days for the Crown Court, and that is why I am proposing further investment in our magistrates. I want to get the number of magistrates back…10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillI will not, given what has just been said by Madam Deputy Speaker. The Bill will remove the ability of defendants to elect a jury trial for either-way offences. That is too often…10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillI will, and then I will make some progress.10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals BillWe have, of course, accepted the thrust of Sir Brian’s recommendations, but there are areas in which we have chosen to go further—the right hon. and learned Gentleman is right…10 Mar 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting Day AllocationsIt has come to our attention that data tables were missing from HCWS1357, on the concordat made on 24 February, and these can now be found below: Each year, the Government and the…25 Feb 2026HANSARDCourts and Tribunals: Sitting Day AllocationsEach year, the Government and the senior judiciary work to agree the sitting day allocations and overall funding envelope for His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service. This…24 Feb 2026HANSARDCourt ModernisationThis Government inherited a criminal justice system on the brink of collapse. Trials are taking longer, hearings are being cancelled, and victims are facing unacceptable delays.…24 Feb 2026HANSARDIndependent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 2The Government inherited a justice system in crisis with a record and rising open caseload of nearly 80,000 criminal cases currently waiting to be heard in the Crown Court. Behind…04 Feb 2026HANSARDChanges to Jury TrialsIt is a bit rich raising what my colleagues are up to on the Back Benches when the hon. Member’s colleagues are going to other Benches in this House. He knows that article 40 of…03 Feb 2026HANSARDChanges to Jury TrialsI welcome the hon. Member to his place, and congratulate him on his recent promotion. We will judge him on his record. We note that he was responsible for cutting 20,000 police…03 Feb 2026