A prominent legal figure and founder of Sir Keir Starmer’s former barristers’ chambers has launched a scathing attack on government proposals to restrict access to jury trials, branding them a "betrayal" of Labour values and a "cure worse than the disease".
Geoffrey Robertson KC, a former joint head of Doughty Street Chambers where Sir Keir and Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer previously worked, published a 31-page polemic on the Bar Council website, arguing the reforms would "take an axe to a piece of English heritage".
Mr Robertson’s critique, titled For Mercy’s Sake, asserts that "attacking juries must be regarded as a betrayal of the values for which Labour purports to stand". He added: "Given its record of support for progressive causes, for free speech and peaceful political protests, the bill does seem a betrayal of Labour traditions and values.
MPs who vote in favour will be on the wrong side of their party’s own history." Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy was also made an associate tenant at the human rights set in 2020.
The government’s proposed changes would see cases with a likely sentence of three years or less heard by a single Crown Court judge, while magistrates could potentially handle cases with a likely sentence of up to two years. These proposals stem from recommendations made in a review by retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Brian Leveson last year.
However, Mr Robertson contends that the reforms are unlikely to alleviate the courts backlog. He warned that every case tried without a jury would necessitate written reasonings, thereby making judges unavailable to hear other cases.
"These considerations – and there are others – will impede the work of reducing the backlog," he stated. "Once Leveson is seen for what it requires of court time and resources, jury removal may well be a cure worse than the disease."
The Courts and Tribunals Bill recently cleared its initial hurdle in the Commons, despite significant dissent from Labour backbenchers. Charlotte Nichols, MP for Warrington North, accused Mr Lammy of using victims as a "cudgel" to push the reforms through, speaking publicly for the first time about her own experience of rape. She said "experiences like mine feel like they’ve been weaponised and are being used for rhetorical misdirection".
Adding to the internal party strife, Kingston upon Hull MP Karl Turner, a qualified barrister and vocal critic of the proposals, had the Labour whip withdrawn last month.
While the Press Association understands he was informed by Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds of the suspension "following his recent conduct", Mr Turner believes the move was linked to his stance on the reforms and has demanded a "full explanation". The decision regarding his whip is expected to be reviewed at a later date.
A Ministry of Justice source defended the government’s position, stating: "The criminal justice system we inherited is on the brink of collapse. Years of inaction by the Tories have created a system that is no longer fit for purpose, where justice delayed has become justice denied."
The source added that "only a combination of investment, modernisation and reform can turn the tide on the backlog before the end of the Parliament," echoing Sir Brian Leveson’s view that "more money and efficiency measures alone will not be sufficient".
They concluded: "The alternative to this package is the Tory status quo: continued drift, collapsed trials, and victims walking away from the system entirely. Instead, this Labour Government, led by its values, chooses a system that works for victims, providing brave survivors with the 21st-century justice they deserve."
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