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2,215 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEngagementsOne of the last meetings that I took as shadow Justice Secretary was with the parents of Lenny Scott. Lenny Scott was an exceptionally brave prison officer who uncovered…21 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right. That is why if the Government have a case, they should publish the evidence—07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsI do. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. It is shameful to our country that victims of serious crimes like rape will have to wait until 2028 or 2029. In fact, I believe the…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsMy right hon. Friend is right. Having served as a Minister in the last Conservative Government under multiple Prime Ministers, I have been led up a few hills before myself, and I…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsI am just restating, I think fairly, what the former permanent secretary said. The Ministry of Justice did not do enough to get the backlog under control. There has been a serious…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsI rest my case, my Lord. I sincerely thank the hon. Gentleman for the way he has conducted himself, and the campaign that he has fought and is fighting on this issue. Having…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsLet me answer the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull East (Karl Turner), because he is making an important point. Lawyers rarely agree—in fact, their profession is often to…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsThat is the subject of this debate, isn’t it? England and Wales have their own legal tradition, and Scotland has its own. Those of us who represent constituencies in England and…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsThe hon. and learned Lady is being very generous with her time. The nub of her argument is that reducing the number of jury trials will make a material difference in cutting the…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsI will give way to the hon. Lady and then to the hon. Gentleman.07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsI beg to move, That this House believes that it is wrong to abolish jury trials for crimes with anticipated sentences of three years or less because jury trials are a fundamental…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsI will come to the hon. Lady in a moment, but I give way to my right hon. Friend.07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsOf course, Mr Speaker—apologies. If the Government have a case, they should publish the evidence and the modelling. This is not a minor policy; it will change something that we…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsBoth parties must share the blame for the present situation. The former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice came before the Justice Committee last year and was asked…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right. Let me come to some potential solutions. It is important to note that the backlog varies very widely across the country. His Majesty’s…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsI will just advance my case a little, and then I will come to my hon. Friend. The most important thing that we could do is get the courts sitting round the clock. There are…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsMy hon. Friend makes a number of very important points. There are better ways to handle this situation. I do not pretend that they are simple; they are difficult. They involve…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsThe hon. Gentleman makes a series of important points. There is something very special about being judged by a group of one’s peers, and about the wisdom of ordinary members of…07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsI will, but then I must conclude my remarks, because many colleagues wish to speak.07 Jan 2026HANSARDJury TrialsWill the hon. and learned Lady give way?07 Jan 2026