Summary
Overview
The News Agents discuss Justice Secretary David Lammy's controversial plan to scrap jury trials for crimes carrying sentences under three years in England and Wales. The hosts debate whether this addresses the fundamental crisis in Britain's justice system, which faces a backlog of 78,000 Crown Court cases projected to reach 100,000 by 2028. They also cover junior doctors announcing five days of strike action before Christmas, despite receiving nearly 30% pay rises over three years, and Trump administration officials calling for travel bans amid heated rhetoric about immigration.
David Lammy's Jury Trial Reforms and the Justice System Crisis
Justice Secretary David Lammy has announced plans to eliminate jury trials for crimes with likely sentences under three years, creating controversy as Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick frames this as tearing up the Magna Carta. The reform is positioned as a response to a severely backlogged justice system where cases may not reach trial until 2030. While Lammy also announced £34 million in additional legal aid funding and increased sitting days, the debate centers on whether removing juries addresses the fundamental problems of underfunding and inefficiency in the courts.
- David Lammy announces scrapping jury trials for crimes with likely sentences under three years in England and Wales
- Crown Court case backlogs currently at 78,000, projected to reach 100,000 by 2028
- Suspects charged today may not reach trial until 2030 under current system
- Robert Jenrick invokes Magna Carta from 1215, claiming Lammy is tearing up 800 years of jury trial tradition
- 90% of cases already heard by magistrates without juries in current system
" King John seals the Magna Carta. In it, no free man will be imprisoned except by the lawful judgment of his peers. The 2nd of December 2025. David Lammy tears it up. "
" I also love the idea that we reached a fundamentally sound and just legal system in 1215. There was definitely no wrongful imprisonment after that. "
The Practical Reality of Justice System Delays
The hosts discuss real-world consequences of the justice backlog, with examples of victims waiting years for cases to reach trial. Barristers are reportedly advising clients that delays work in defendants' favor as victims may abandon cases after prolonged waiting. The discussion reveals that the justice system employs fewer criminal lawyers than ever before on a per capita basis, with 7% fewer judges than 15 years ago and 10% less spending in real terms on courts.
- Stalking and attempted rape victim told case could take years, with defense strategy being to delay until victim drops charges
- Justice delayed is justice denied - prolonged waits destroy lives of both victims and accused
- Justice system employs fewer criminal lawyers than ever before on per capita basis
- Number of judges 7% smaller than 15 years ago, spending 10% less in real terms on court system
- Crown Court cases resolved per sitting day dropped from 1.16 in 2019-20 to 0.97 currently
" If we delay this long enough there is every possibility that the person who is accusing him will just think I want to get on with my life I don't want this hanging over me and the case will drop. If that is a legal tactic now that just play it long because the case will go away then surely that has to be addressed. "
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