UK
PCS condemns Lammys’ jury proposals
From the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
PCS strongly condemns the justice secretary David Lammy’s reported proposals to restrict the historic right to trial by jury.
PCS considers that the proposed plans for restricting the right to trial by jury are disgraceful, undemocratic, and represent a dangerous dismantling of a cornerstone of British justice that has stood for centuries.
The government claims this is a solution to court backlogs, but it is nothing more than a sticking plaster that will fail victims and defendants alike. The crown court backlog, understood to be around 80,000 cases, is not caused by juries. It is the result of systematic underfunding, staff pay restraint, chronic staff shortages, and years of neglect of our justice system.
PCS does not accept the Ministry of Justice’s argument that these proposals would save victims “years of torment and delay”. Restricting trial by jury is an undemocratic shortcut. Instead of eroding fundamental rights, the government must commit to fully resourcing and staffing our courts, investing in the people and infrastructure that keep justice moving. PCS members working across the justice sector know that the crisis is driven by cuts, not by juries.
PCS group president for the Ministry of Justice, Sharon McLean, says, “Trial by jury is not an optional extra – it is a vital safeguard in a healthy democracy. Removing it for thousands of serious cases is not in the interests of our members, the public, or the principles of fairness and democracy.
“PCS will oppose these jury proposals and calls on the government to reconsider immediately. Justice delayed is justice denied – but justice dismantled is no justice at all.”
Our members are as frustrated as the public about the backlogs. But we cannot see this significantly improving until there is a fully funded and resourced justice service.”
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- This was originally published on the PCS website on 3 December 2025.
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