The right for defendants to choose whether trials should take place in the magistrates’ or crown court would be scrapped, meaning some sexual assault, burglary, drug dealing and robbery cases could be heard by a single judge. Instead, judges will assess whether a case is “likely” to result in a three-year prison sentence or more. If thought to be less, it will be heard by either a magistrate or the new Crown Court Bench Division. Justice Secretary David Lammy says drastic action is needed to reduce huge waiting lists, but has faced a furious backlash over cutting people’s right to have their fate decided by their peers.
Now barrister Chris Moran has sensationally resigned his Labour membership in outrage, writing to the Prime Minister personally to vent his anger at the “heartbreaking” change.
Mr Moran voted for Sir Keir to become Labour leader because he “looked up to and admired” him as a former director of public prosecutions.
He also believed a Labour government would “act differently” to the Tories in its approach to the justice system.
But in a letter to Sir Keir published and shared widely on social media site X, he said: “I have changed my mind due to the unprincipled, counter-productive and shameful constitutional vandalism to trial by jury that you are now seeking to push through Parliament without proper scrutiny.”
He pointed to how Labour had backed jury trials in opposition, but said the way the party “ditched its principles and shrugged off its own arguments as soon as you were in a position of power is simply staggering”.
He added: “For party members like me, it is heartbreaking.
“Many people in the country have no experience of the criminal justice system … they can be forgiven for not grasping the enormity and far-reaching consequences of your proposals.
“They can also be forgiven if they fall for the intellectually disingenuous arguments your Government is deploying to try and achieve its aims.
”However, you do not have that excuse.
“I hope you and your MPs come to your senses before it is too late. It would be a shocking legacy for a Labour government.”
