Courts and Tribunals Bill

Oliver Dowden Excerpts

Tuesday 10th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Nick Timothy]

I will not.

It is not difficult to see how this, too, will undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system and put judges in an impossible situation.

[Sir Oliver Dowden (Hertsmere) (Con)]

My hon. Friend is making some very important points. There is a more fundamental point about public perception, which he may come on to in a moment. If we pass this legislation at a time when confidence in this place and in conventional politics is at an exceedingly low ebb, we will be sending a signal to people that this place does not trust 12 good men and true to make decisions, and, in fact, that we want to take that decision away from them. Does he agree that that will further erode confidence in conventional mainstream politics?

[Nick Timothy]

I completely—