Burnham to scrutinize Labour's plan to limit jury trials

Andy Burnham announced he will take a detailed look at the Labour government’s proposal to reduce jury trials, a policy originally set out by former justice secretary David Lammy. The reform would allow a single judge to hear cases where the expected custodial term is up to three years, a measure intended to alleviate an 80,000-case backlog in Crown Courts that could push some trials to 2030. Burnham said his instincts are to protect access to jury trials and that he may seek amendments before the Courts and Tribunals Bill becomes law.

His comments came after he halted a large early-release programme and began discussions to readmit Hull East MP Karl Turner, a vocal opponent of the jury reforms, into the Parliamentary Labour Party. Critics from the Bar Council and several Labour MPs argue the changes risk undermining the justice system, while the Conservative shadow justice secretary has urged a cross-party vote against them.