Speeches by Paul.

“Some of the written evidence and survivor correspondence we have seen is plainly sympathetic to structural reform, including limited judge-only trials. Supplementary evidence from the Victims’ Commissioner broadly supports action on clauses 1 to 7, and says that many victims, if offered”

“I agree with my hon. Friend. Frankly, I am shocked that a Labour Government would do that. It is the last thing I expected of a Labour Government.”

“The Bar Council says the proposal introduces an extra layer of hearings and complication. JUSTICE says that the allocation of cases will lengthen the PTPH, and that the process of reallocation will lengthen it further. If Ministers have accounted for that, they should show their workings. If they have not, the headline…”

“The Lammy review found that many individuals from ethnic minorities opted for trial in the Crown court whenever possible, because they had more confidence in juries than in magistrates. It also found that juries, unlike other parts of the system, convicted BAME and white defendants at very similar rates, including with…”

“Thank you for that, Ms Jardine. I reassure you that I will not be speaking for very much longer, but I will cover the last of what I consider to be the important points. Thank you for your guidance and patience. The Law Society warns that the Bill’s proposals will increase the number of defendants in magistrates courts…”

“Colleagues will also recall the circulated letter from leaders in the violence against women and girls space, which makes the same point from another direction. It states that juries”

“It is a pleasure to start the day with you and end the day with you, Ms Jardine. I am sure you are very much enjoying starting your day with me and ending your day with me, too. [Laughter.] I have just realised how that can be interpreted. My apologies, Ms Jardine; I cannot account for the minds of other Members. To ge…”

“The reforms come at a time when the magistrates courts are themselves under very visible strain. JUSTICE says that magistrates generally sit for only around 13 full days per year, that cases in the magistrates’ courts have become less complex in recent years, and that the system is not currently set up to absorb a grea…”

“JUSTICE says that the Bill will not have an impact on the backlog until 2028-29, and that prison demand is not predicted to decline until 2034-35. The Institute for Government says that the gains are uncertain and may backfire. The Bar Council, the Law Society and others say that alternative productivity measures could…”

““In 2022, 26% of Black defendants elected for trial in the Crown Court,””

“Polling cited in that letter suggests jury trials are one of the most trusted elements of the justice system. That takes us back to first principles. Jury trial is not just a fact-finding mechanism; it is also a democratic one. Geoffrey Rivlin KC put it more directly when he wrote that jury trial is the “gold standard”…”

“That is before we even get to the cost of written reasoned verdicts. In clause 3 cases, the Bill requires judges to set out written reasons for conviction or acquittal. I have seen that particular innovation praised on the grounds of transparency, but surely if the Government’s argument is about saving court time, they…”

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“The equality statement itself admits that it does not have access to full data on who elects jury trials, broken down by disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status, and that it cannot draw conclusions on potential differences in verdicts for individuals with protected characteristics for…”

“The Government’s consistent position has been that the reforms are justified, proportionate and fair. If that is truly their view, they should have no objection to being required to come back to Parliament and show their working in the light of experience. Resistance to the new clause would therefore be highly revealin…”

“My hon. Friend is making some powerful points. Hearing him read out what the law says brings home to me just how terrible this Bill is. Surely everyone can see that there is no clarity how it would work. Rather than there being any clear guidance, it essentially feels as though any judge can have their own view on comp…”

“Yet we are now being told there is no right to a jury trial, only to a fair trial, and that the Government are on sound legal ground in applying the reforms retrospectively. If jury trials really are always a cornerstone of British justice, surely one does not lightly create a large new category of criminal cases in wh…”

“Absolutely, Ms Jardine—we can go into the early hours of the morning if we need to, and I am happy to do so this evening if that is what people would like to do. In cases of offensive communications, malicious communications, harassment, stalking and other digital evidence-related cases, the line between criminality an…”

“I thank you for making that point, Ms Jardine. I just emphasise how serious the changes in this legislation are. I know the Opposition are willing to put in the hours that are needed to go through the full detail, so that everyone can say what they need to. I imagine the Government are equally keen to spend the hours r…”