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Lammy plan to axe juries proceeds through Parliament
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy delivers a keynote speech on reforming the justice system at the Microsoft AI Tour in London, February 24, 2026

LABOUR got its plan to drastically curtail trials by jury through its second reading in the Commons on Tuesday.

MPs backed the historic move by 304 votes to 203, but with 10 Labour MPs opposing and around 90 abstaining in the hope that the scheme can be amended in later parliamentary stages.

Warrington South Labour MP Charlotte Nichols made a powerful speech condemning Justice Secretary David Lammy’s approach.

She spoke of being raped but argued that “experiences like mine feel like they’ve been weaponised and are being used for rhetorical misdirection” by the government.

Hull MP Karl Turner, who has led opposition to the Bill, called the changes “unworkable, unpopular, unjust and unnecessary,” but then abstained.

Ministers claim reducing jury trials are needed to tackle an enormous backlog of court cases, causing suffering to crime victims.

Just 10 Labour MPs voted against: Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain, Kim Johnson, Ian Lavery, John McDonnell, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Jon Trickett and Nadia Whittome. 

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