Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Member of Parliament for Solihull West & Shirley, has challenged the Solicitor General in Parliament over the Government’s controversial plans to scale back the use of jury trials in England and Wales.
During the exchange, Dr Shastri-Hurst asked the Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, whether the Government would U-turn on the controversial policy to scrap jury trials and listen to the legal profession’s widespread objections, as well as concerns raised by its own Labour MPs.
Responding, the Solicitor General insisted that the Government would not be making a U-turn.
Following his intervention, Dr Shastri-Hurst said:
“When a policy faces this level of opposition, the Government should think again. Jury trials are a cornerstone of our justice system. As others are warning, these plans risk politicising the role of judges and could put their personal safety at risk."
Dr Shastri-Hurst continues to call on the Government to reconsider its approach and ensure that efforts to reduce court backlogs do not come at the expense of curtailing jury trials.
