LABOUR has bowed to pressure over plans to scrap jury trials, with campaigners today cautiously welcoming the announcement.Justice Secretary Alex Norris said legislating for judge-only trials would have been “complicated to implement,” slowing down the “whole package” of reforms under the Courts and Tribunals Bill.The decision is a U-turn on proposals introduced under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, championed by former justice secretary David Lammy, who had argued the reforms were “desperately needed” to tackle court backlogs.

LABOUR has bowed to pressure over plans to scrap jury trials, with campaigners today cautiously welcoming the announcement.

Justice Secretary Alex Norris said legislating for judge-only trials would have been “complicated to implement,” slowing down the “whole package” of reforms under the Courts and Tribunals Bill.

The decision is a U-turn on proposals introduced under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, championed by former justice secretary David Lammy, who had argued the reforms were “desperately needed” to tackle court backlogs.

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