All five of Southwark’s MPs failed to vote against the government’s plans to scrap most jury trials after the Conservatives forced a vote on the proposal yesterday.
The government’s justice secretary David Lammy unveiled plans in December to abolish jury trials for crimes carrying a sentence of less than three years.
Serious crimes, including murder, robbery and rape, will still be tried before a jury.
Lammy said the reforms were necessary to clear the court backlog which is nearly at 80,000 – but the Conservatives and Greens have described the plans as an ‘attack on the rule of law’.
The Conservatives used an opposition day debate in Parliament yesterday (Wednesday, 7 Jan) to force a motion calling on the government to reverse the proposals.
MPs Neil Coyle (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) and Ellie Reeves (Lewisham West and East Dulwich) voted against the motion.
Coyle told the News: “The legacy of fourteen years Tory/LibDem governments was a situation where the police had been cut by 23,000, the court backlog was at record level and some offences had been decriminalised due to the failure of the criminal justice system to hold perpetrators to account. That was unforgivable.
He added: “Local people have come to see me for help as they face severe, lengthy delays getting justice – years in some cases. They tell me justice delayed is justice denied. I fully support plans to reduce delays and ensure justice is served.
“There is no need for crimes like burglary to require a jury trial and scrapping it in some cases will help speed up; the justice system and help restore faith. Juries will still be required for the most serious crimes.”
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Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood), Miatta Fahnbulleh (Peckham) and Florence Eshalomi (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green) abstained from voting.
The motion was defeated by 287 votes to 181. Just one Labour MP, Karl Turner for Kingston upon Hull East, went against the government to back the motion.
Commenting on yesterday’s vote, Andy Hidgson, the Secretary of the Southwark Green Party said: “All five local Labour MPs voted to scrap jury trials – another assault on our rights from an increasingly authoritarian government.
“This will dismantle an 800-year cornerstone of our justice system. For David Lammy to claim trial by jury is “not a right” is a disgrace.
“Instead of cutting rights, the Government must properly fund justice. I am proud that the Green Party MPs have opposed these proposals every step of the way.”
MP Neil Coyle MP hit back at the Greens, saying: “The Greens claim to oppose Labour plans but want to decriminalise all drugs. Given the crime and antisocial behaviour as well as addiction-related issues to do with heroin and crack, they should probably rethink their bonkers plans or risk inundating the courts with new cases. Their policies would break a struggling system that Labour is trying to fix.”
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