Contributions
747 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsMy right hon. Friend speaks with huge authority and personal experience of how our Crown courts operate. Like us, she is committed to restoring and rebuilding our criminal justice…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsI thank the hon. Gentleman and all those who perform the civic duty of participating in a jury for their service. As I said, that will remain a cornerstone of British justice for…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsAs ever, my hon. Friend the Chair of the Justice Committee, gives a considered response and he is absolutely right. There needs to be a recognition of the scale of the problem and…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsThis issue is far too serious not to take seriously. I listen to voices, such as those of the former Lord Chancellor, former Lord Chief Justice Sir Ian Burnett, the Victims’…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsWhat I did not hear in any of that was an apology. It is extraordinary to hear that the shadow Justice Secretary has suddenly discovered a sense of urgency, but where was that…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsAs I said in my opening response, jury trials will remain a cornerstone for British justice for the most serious cases but, as Sir Brian Levenson evidences in his careful report,…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsMy hon. Friend speaks so passionately on behalf of his constituents. I think the public ask for something really simple: if people are unfortunate enough to be the victim of a…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsEnglish common law and our commitment to the rule of law with our independent judiciary are part of what make this country great. We are not going to ape the American system, or…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsThe hon. Member raises an extremely helpful point, which is about how we can improve efficiency in our courts through the use of technology, including technology that is improving…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. We talk about sitting days and backlogs, and it can all sound a little arid and academic, but it comes back to people. The fact that so many…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsThe right hon. Lady has described how important the role of the magistrates courts will be and the importance of whole-system reform. The Government are not looking to tweak one…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsI come back to the fact that this Government are investing in our court estate. We have invested an additional £20 million in our court buildings for maintenance and to keep the…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsIt is a bit rich to accuse those on the Government Benches of being soft on crime. The hon. Gentleman’s party allowed the prisons to run hot and added 500 prison places in 14…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsWhen the Victims’ Commissioner, the London Victims’ Commissioner and those who engage and support victims through victim services tell me that we have to take this opportunity for…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsThe hon. Member is right that as we take forward and are ready to announce the package of reforms in response to Sir Brian’s review, we will consider how we can take forward the…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsI can tell that my hon. Friend has taken the liberty of actually reading the report, because he has identified the central premise and argument that Sir Brian Leveson, one of our…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsAs the hon. Member well knows, justice is a devolved matter, and it is right that decisions involving justice are taken at the correct level, but I assure her and the rest of the…09 Jul 2025HANSARDTrial by Jury: Proposed RestrictionsI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his typically helpful and constructive contribution. We are talking about a system that has so many moving parts, and that is why we will not…09 Jul 2025HANSARDCourt Backlog and Pre-trial Waiting TimesMy hon. Friend raises an important point. The impact of the Crown courts backlog is being felt by domestic abuse victims and small businesses, so we have a real job to do to…08 Jul 2025HANSARDLegal Aid Agency: Digital ServicesAs the House will be aware, the Legal Aid Agency suffered a criminal cyber-attack across its systems. It has worked tirelessly to ensure that those who rely on legal aid have not…08 Jul 2025