Novara Live

David Lammy Pledges to Slash Jury Trials

17 snips
Dec 2, 2025
David Lammy's proposed reform could end jury trials for sentences under three years, sparking a debate about the democratic role of juries. The hosts explore potential impacts on justice, including which offences might be affected. In addition, they discuss the political fallout surrounding Rachel Reeves and budget claims, unveiling a web of accusations about misleading information. Zack Polanski's rising influence in the Green Party also garners attention, alongside economics discussions that challenge conventional views on deficits and taxation.
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INSIGHT

Jury Trials Under Threat

  • David Lammy proposes judge-alone trials for many either-way offences to clear a huge post-pandemic backlog of jury cases.
  • Hosts argue this risks eroding jury equity and democratic checks on state and judicial power.
INSIGHT

Backlog Numbers And Real Impact

  • The backlog of jury cases is about 78,000 raw, or ~110,000 adjusted for complexity, driven largely by the pandemic.
  • Hosts question whether removing some jury trials would meaningfully speed up high-priority cases like rape prosecutions.
INSIGHT

Juries As Community Knowledge

  • Helena Kennedy warns starting to cut jury rights will likely lead to the end of jury trials altogether and empower elites.
  • She stresses juries bring community knowledge judges may lack, especially about drugs and gangs.
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