Greens react to proposals to scrap jury trials

Reacting to proposals from the Justice Secretary, David Lammy, to massively restrict the right to a jury trial, Green MP Siân Berry said:

“This is yet another assault on our rights from an increasingly authoritarian government. This proposal would scrap a fundamental cornerstone of our justice system which has been in place for 800 years. 

“For David Lammy to describe the right to trial by jury as ‘not a right’ is a disgrace. The Government must fund our justice system properly – not make people pay for Labour and Conservative austerity with their fundamental rights. The Green Party will fight these proposals all the way.”