Right to Trial by Jury Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Right to Trial by Jury

Richard Tice Excerpts
Thursday 27th November 2025

(1 day, 2 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sarah Sackman Portrait Sarah Sackman
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So do I. I spoke to a victim of child sexual abuse who had waited years for his day in court. A couple of weeks before his trial date, he was given the devastating news that the trial had been adjourned for another year. I regret to say that he sought to take his own life upon hearing that. Luckily, his attempt did not work, but if we ever needed a more graphic illustration of the weight that these intolerable delays place on victims —on real people’s lives—that is it. That is why we have to do whatever it takes to bring down these backlogs.

Richard Tice Portrait Richard Tice (Boston and Skegness) (Reform)
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Trial by jury is a fundamental principle of our justice system, engendering confidence among the British people. We all want to bring the backlogs down, but may I urge the Government to focus on the efficiencies, on technology and on additional investment? There is a fundamental point here: are the Minister and the Government aware that victims and the British people have more confidence in juries’ decisions than the decisions of judges?