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“I’ve never truthfully experienced a policy so objectionable — in the sense that it really is undemocratic.” Labour MP and former Shadow Attorney General Karl Turner MP joins FSU General Secretary Lord Young on the latest episode of the FSU Podcast to discuss the Government’s sinister plan to restrict...

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The Free Speech Union

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15,475 views • 4 months ago •via X (Twitter)

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📣🚨 NEW FSU PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW! Just when you think this government couldn’t get any more authoritarian, it’s pressing ahead with restricting the right to trial by jury. Tomorrow, the Courts and Tribunals Bill will have its second reading, and Labour MPs are gearing up to rebel against the government. On this week’s episode, the General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, Lord Young, is joined by Labour MP and former Shadow Attorney General Karl Turner MP, who has been leading the charge in Parliament to save our jury trials. Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel 👇
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📣🚨 NEW FSU PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW! Just when you think this government couldn’t get any more authoritarian, it’s pressing ahead with restricting the right to trial by jury. Tomorrow, the Courts and Tribunals Bill will have its second reading, and Labour MPs are gearing up to rebel against the government. On this week’s episode, the General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, Lord Young, is joined by Labour MP and former Shadow Attorney General Karl Turner MP, who has been leading the charge in Parliament to save our jury trials. Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel 👇

The Free Speech Union

21,658 views • 4 months ago

Keir Starmer and David Lammy WANT to take away your right to a jury trial. We can’t let that happen. The Prime Minister doubled down on this sinister plan during a visit to China — a country not known for its love of freedom. David Lammy claims this “radical action” is needed to clear the Crown Court backlog. That’s a lie. The Institute for Government shows it would save just 2% of Crown Court time — not the 20% Lammy promised. The Free Speech Union knows how vital jury trials are. If Lammy gets his way, more people will be banged up simply for exercising free speech. Join over 40,000 people and sign the Free Speech Union’s petition to SAVE JURY TRIALS. Watch FSU Campaigns Officer Max Thompson below 👇
1:21

Keir Starmer and David Lammy WANT to take away your right to a jury trial. We can’t let that happen. The Prime Minister doubled down on this sinister plan during a visit to China — a country not known for its love of freedom. David Lammy claims this “radical action” is needed to clear the Crown Court backlog. That’s a lie. The Institute for Government shows it would save just 2% of Crown Court time — not the 20% Lammy promised. The Free Speech Union knows how vital jury trials are. If Lammy gets his way, more people will be banged up simply for exercising free speech. Join over 40,000 people and sign the Free Speech Union’s petition to SAVE JURY TRIALS. Watch FSU Campaigns Officer Max Thompson below 👇

The Free Speech Union

26,378 views • 5 months ago

David Lammy tried to slash our right to a trial by jury — a right that predates Magna Carta. As Justice Secretary in Starmer’s Government, he led the biggest assault on English liberty — particularly free speech — in more than 800 years. David Lammy claimed his plan was the only way to reduce the backlog of 80,000 Crown Court cases, despite offering no credible evidence to support it. What his plan would have achieved is a profound erosion of public trust in the criminal justice system, while sending more people behind bars simply for exercising their right to free speech. FSU research has shown that those charged with speech-related offences are almost twice as likely to be acquitted in a Crown Court with a jury than in a magistrates’ court without one. Now that Andy Burnham has sent him packing, let’s hope he takes his authoritarian plan with him. Watch FSU Campaigns Officer Max Thompson 👇
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David Lammy tried to slash our right to a trial by jury — a right that predates Magna Carta. As Justice Secretary in Starmer’s Government, he led the biggest assault on English liberty — particularly free speech — in more than 800 years. David Lammy claimed his plan was the only way to reduce the backlog of 80,000 Crown Court cases, despite offering no credible evidence to support it. What his plan would have achieved is a profound erosion of public trust in the criminal justice system, while sending more people behind bars simply for exercising their right to free speech. FSU research has shown that those charged with speech-related offences are almost twice as likely to be acquitted in a Crown Court with a jury than in a magistrates’ court without one. Now that Andy Burnham has sent him packing, let’s hope he takes his authoritarian plan with him. Watch FSU Campaigns Officer Max Thompson 👇

The Free Speech Union

15,788 views • 8 days ago

🚨 This is the most AUTHORITARIAN move the government has made to date — and that’s a pretty high bar. David Lammy wants to scrap the right to trial by jury, a protection that dates back over 800 years to Magna Carta. Jury trials are a cornerstone of English liberty, and a crucial safeguard for free speech. Our research shows that defendants who justify their actions on free speech grounds are twice as likely to be acquitted in a crown court with a jury than in a magistrates’ court without one. If you care about the right to trial by jury — and you care about free speech — ✍️SIGN OUR PETITION
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🚨 This is the most AUTHORITARIAN move the government has made to date — and that’s a pretty high bar. David Lammy wants to scrap the right to trial by jury, a protection that dates back over 800 years to Magna Carta. Jury trials are a cornerstone of English liberty, and a crucial safeguard for free speech. Our research shows that defendants who justify their actions on free speech grounds are twice as likely to be acquitted in a crown court with a jury than in a magistrates’ court without one. If you care about the right to trial by jury — and you care about free speech — ✍️SIGN OUR PETITION

The Free Speech Union

136,457 views • 7 months ago

Courts Minister Sarah Sackman tells Channel 4 News that the government’s reforms to trials by jury will not result in a ‘dilution of justice in our system’. Under planned reforms, the government looks to limit jury trials for only the most serious crimes to help ease a backlog in the court system.
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Courts Minister Sarah Sackman tells Channel 4 News that the government’s reforms to trials by jury will not result in a ‘dilution of justice in our system’. Under planned reforms, the government looks to limit jury trials for only the most serious crimes to help ease a backlog in the court system.

Channel 4 News

17,563 views • 7 months ago

The right to trial by jury dates back to Henry II — and for David Lammy, we should point out that he came after Henry I. In the most AUTHORITARIAN move taken by this government to date — and that’s a pretty high bar — Lammy plans to slash our right to jury trials. FSU research has shown that if you are charged with a speech-related offence, you are almost twice as likely to be acquitted in a Crown Court with a jury than in a magistrates’ court without one. Almost 30,000 people have signed our petition calling on the government to guarentee this ancient right is protected. If you care about English liberty — particularly free speech — ✍️ SIGN OUR PETITION:
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The right to trial by jury dates back to Henry II — and for David Lammy, we should point out that he came after Henry I. In the most AUTHORITARIAN move taken by this government to date — and that’s a pretty high bar — Lammy plans to slash our right to jury trials. FSU research has shown that if you are charged with a speech-related offence, you are almost twice as likely to be acquitted in a Crown Court with a jury than in a magistrates’ court without one. Almost 30,000 people have signed our petition calling on the government to guarentee this ancient right is protected. If you care about English liberty — particularly free speech — ✍️ SIGN OUR PETITION:

The Free Speech Union

94,885 views • 7 months ago

EXCLUSIVE I'm "ashamed" of Sir Keir Starmer, says rebel Labour MP - as the row over justice reforms escalates. Karl Turner tells me "I'm not going to be bullied" and attacks "pal" Starmer and called the justice secretary "lazy" as we visit one of London's busiest courts. This is the most cross I've ever seen a mainstream Labour MP against Starmer. But ministers are doubling down, not backing down, vowing to strip the right to a jury from those already facing trial to cut the backlog. We saw broken justice at Snarkesbrook Crown Court, talked to the government, rebels, judges and lawyers. Watch our deep dive Film by Joe Cook
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EXCLUSIVE I'm "ashamed" of Sir Keir Starmer, says rebel Labour MP - as the row over justice reforms escalates. Karl Turner tells me "I'm not going to be bullied" and attacks "pal" Starmer and called the justice secretary "lazy" as we visit one of London's busiest courts. This is the most cross I've ever seen a mainstream Labour MP against Starmer. But ministers are doubling down, not backing down, vowing to strip the right to a jury from those already facing trial to cut the backlog. We saw broken justice at Snarkesbrook Crown Court, talked to the government, rebels, judges and lawyers. Watch our deep dive Film by Joe Cook

Sam Coates Sky

223,314 views • 6 months ago

Today, I defended your right to a fair trial by voting against the government’s Courts and Tribunals Bill, which seeks to erode the right to a jury trial for a number of serious offences that carry sentences of up to three years. The Justice Secretary has put his fingers in his ears, despite the entire legal sector sounding the alarm, that scrapping jury trials will do absolutely nothing to bring down the spiralling court backlog and threatens a cornerstone of our justice system. I will now seek to amend the bill on the bill committee, which will take place after Easter.
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Today, I defended your right to a fair trial by voting against the government’s Courts and Tribunals Bill, which seeks to erode the right to a jury trial for a number of serious offences that carry sentences of up to three years. The Justice Secretary has put his fingers in his ears, despite the entire legal sector sounding the alarm, that scrapping jury trials will do absolutely nothing to bring down the spiralling court backlog and threatens a cornerstone of our justice system. I will now seek to amend the bill on the bill committee, which will take place after Easter.

Jess Brown-Fuller MP

23,094 views • 4 months ago

Why is the government blackmailing its own MPs to pass emergency legislation? Labour MP Karl Turner has just exposed a massive government cover-up regarding the UK justice system. The state is planning to scrap the right to a jury trial for most offences, blaming a court backlog. But Turner reveals that up to 20% of courtrooms sit completely empty because of funding failures. When he tried to warn the public, party enforcers briefed the press that he was mentally unstable and threatened his private life. You are losing your fundamental legal rights just to cover up a Whitehall failure. 🤬
4:02

Why is the government blackmailing its own MPs to pass emergency legislation? Labour MP Karl Turner has just exposed a massive government cover-up regarding the UK justice system. The state is planning to scrap the right to a jury trial for most offences, blaming a court backlog. But Turner reveals that up to 20% of courtrooms sit completely empty because of funding failures. When he tried to warn the public, party enforcers briefed the press that he was mentally unstable and threatened his private life. You are losing your fundamental legal rights just to cover up a Whitehall failure. 🤬

🤍𝕁𝕆🤍

22,179 views • 3 months ago

There has been no modelling, costing nor piloting of limiting the right to jury trial. That's why we are united with Bar leaders in opposing it - there is no evidence it will bring down the Crown Court backlog. Listen to the full episode of the Double Jeopardy podcast now⤵️
2:10

There has been no modelling, costing nor piloting of limiting the right to jury trial. That's why we are united with Bar leaders in opposing it - there is no evidence it will bring down the Crown Court backlog. Listen to the full episode of the Double Jeopardy podcast now⤵️

The Bar Council

13,896 views • 7 months ago

“The negative reaction to Lammy’s proposals has reassuringly come from all sides of the political landscape”. Criminal barrister, Adam King, noted that David Lammy’s plan to slash our right to trial by jury has reassuringly managed to unite both the left and right in opposition — including Rupert Lowe and Baroness Chakrabarti. Defending our ancient right to trial by jury — a cornerstone of our criminal justice system — is an issue that transcends party politics. Watch Adam King speak at the Free Speech Union’s ‘In defence of trial by jury’ event last week ⬇️
11:23

“The negative reaction to Lammy’s proposals has reassuringly come from all sides of the political landscape”. Criminal barrister, Adam King, noted that David Lammy’s plan to slash our right to trial by jury has reassuringly managed to unite both the left and right in opposition — including Rupert Lowe and Baroness Chakrabarti. Defending our ancient right to trial by jury — a cornerstone of our criminal justice system — is an issue that transcends party politics. Watch Adam King speak at the Free Speech Union’s ‘In defence of trial by jury’ event last week ⬇️

The Free Speech Union

21,351 views • 5 months ago

General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, Lord Young of Acton, asked the Justice Minister in the House of Lords to guarantee that at least people accused of speech crimes have a right to a jury trial, which is such an important bulwark of free speech. She declined. Trial by jury is a cornerstone of English liberty — especially free speech. David Lammy’s plans amount to the biggest assault on our liberty in 800 years. If the Government were serious about reducing delays and the court backlog, they’d stop creating so many new criminal offences -- 65 in the Crime and Courts Bill alone. If Lammy gets his way and jury trials are scrapped, you’re far more likely to be banged up for hurty words. We cannot let this happen.
1:42

General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, Lord Young of Acton, asked the Justice Minister in the House of Lords to guarantee that at least people accused of speech crimes have a right to a jury trial, which is such an important bulwark of free speech. She declined. Trial by jury is a cornerstone of English liberty — especially free speech. David Lammy’s plans amount to the biggest assault on our liberty in 800 years. If the Government were serious about reducing delays and the court backlog, they’d stop creating so many new criminal offences -- 65 in the Crime and Courts Bill alone. If Lammy gets his way and jury trials are scrapped, you’re far more likely to be banged up for hurty words. We cannot let this happen.

The Free Speech Union

285,063 views • 7 months ago

Christopher Kinch KC, a retired judge, has said that his many years at the bar and on the bench have convinced him that trial by jury is “the gold standard — the best system yet devised to decide whether guilt has been proven.” David Lammy has, in many respects, acknowledged this indirectly by planning to retain jury trials for the most serious cases. An incredibly powerful justification would be needed to scrap this ancient liberty — and none has been provided. Watch Christopher Kinch KC at our In Defence of Jury Trials event last week 👇
14:05

Christopher Kinch KC, a retired judge, has said that his many years at the bar and on the bench have convinced him that trial by jury is “the gold standard — the best system yet devised to decide whether guilt has been proven.” David Lammy has, in many respects, acknowledged this indirectly by planning to retain jury trials for the most serious cases. An incredibly powerful justification would be needed to scrap this ancient liberty — and none has been provided. Watch Christopher Kinch KC at our In Defence of Jury Trials event last week 👇

The Free Speech Union

22,043 views • 5 months ago

The right to be tried by a jury of your peers has been a cornerstone of our justice system for centuries. This Government now wants to strip that right away and replace it with trial by the state.
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The right to be tried by a jury of your peers has been a cornerstone of our justice system for centuries. This Government now wants to strip that right away and replace it with trial by the state.

Sarah Pochin MP

17,447 views • 4 months ago

Lord Young of Acton has called on the Justice Minister in the House of Lords to condemn Labour MP Natalie Fleet’s comments smearing defenders of trial by jury as “men in suits clinging on to a Magna Carta myth.” 📚A quick history lesson in there for David Lammy as well!
0:32

Lord Young of Acton has called on the Justice Minister in the House of Lords to condemn Labour MP Natalie Fleet’s comments smearing defenders of trial by jury as “men in suits clinging on to a Magna Carta myth.” 📚A quick history lesson in there for David Lammy as well!

The Free Speech Union

83,230 views • 7 months ago

The governments latest video attempting to justify its plan to undermine and restrict a fundamental cornerstone of our democracy - the right to trial by jury - is one of the most shameful things I’ve seen. The Prime Minister should hang his head in shame for supporting this
4:11

The governments latest video attempting to justify its plan to undermine and restrict a fundamental cornerstone of our democracy - the right to trial by jury - is one of the most shameful things I’ve seen. The Prime Minister should hang his head in shame for supporting this

Peter Stefanovic

249,682 views • 4 months ago

Justice Secretary David Lammy is considering scrapping trial by juries - an ancient right that's said to date back to the Magna Carta more than 800 years ago. The proposals could help clear a massive 78,000 backlog of court cases, but would see jury trials only guaranteed for defendants facing rape, murder, manslaughter or other very serious charges. Katy Rickitt reports.
2:22

Justice Secretary David Lammy is considering scrapping trial by juries - an ancient right that's said to date back to the Magna Carta more than 800 years ago. The proposals could help clear a massive 78,000 backlog of court cases, but would see jury trials only guaranteed for defendants facing rape, murder, manslaughter or other very serious charges. Katy Rickitt reports.

Good Morning Britain

58,462 views • 8 months ago

Our new Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC was on Sky News this morning discussing the government's plan to curb the right to a jury trial as well as bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar. Kirsty set out why we fundamentally oppose the plans to restrict the right to jury trial, including the fact that there is no evidence it will reduce the Crown Court backlog. The Chair also discussed Baroness Harriet Harman KC's independent review into bullying, harassment and sexual harassment and how she plans to take forward the 36 recommendations to 'stamp out' these inappropriate behaviours and shift the jeopardy from the victim to the perpetrator. Follow the links below to find out more about our work in these areas⬇️ Credit: Sky News
4:46

Our new Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC was on Sky News this morning discussing the government's plan to curb the right to a jury trial as well as bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar. Kirsty set out why we fundamentally oppose the plans to restrict the right to jury trial, including the fact that there is no evidence it will reduce the Crown Court backlog. The Chair also discussed Baroness Harriet Harman KC's independent review into bullying, harassment and sexual harassment and how she plans to take forward the 36 recommendations to 'stamp out' these inappropriate behaviours and shift the jeopardy from the victim to the perpetrator. Follow the links below to find out more about our work in these areas⬇️ Credit: Sky News

The Bar Council

11,997 views • 6 months ago

#TrialByJury The leader of the North Eastern Circuit, Caroline Goodwin KC, has just given the Justice Minister a reality check on Labour’s plans to limit jury trials to deal with the court backlog. You don’t solve a backlog by removing one of the oldest safeguards of liberty in this country. Trial by jury is not an administrative inconvenience. It is a protection against the power of the state. Create the chaos to present the solution. Labour is exacerbating the issue and then presenting the solution, and the solution always seems to involve less liberty, more state power, and fewer protections for the individual. Limit jury trials, and what you move towards are Diplock-style courts, trials decided by a single judge without a jury. We have been down that road before, and it was never meant to be normal justice. This country fought for jury trials. They are not a bureaucratic problem to be managed away. Be very careful when governments start talking about “efficiency” in the justice system. Efficiency for the state often means fewer rights for the people.
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#TrialByJury The leader of the North Eastern Circuit, Caroline Goodwin KC, has just given the Justice Minister a reality check on Labour’s plans to limit jury trials to deal with the court backlog. You don’t solve a backlog by removing one of the oldest safeguards of liberty in this country. Trial by jury is not an administrative inconvenience. It is a protection against the power of the state. Create the chaos to present the solution. Labour is exacerbating the issue and then presenting the solution, and the solution always seems to involve less liberty, more state power, and fewer protections for the individual. Limit jury trials, and what you move towards are Diplock-style courts, trials decided by a single judge without a jury. We have been down that road before, and it was never meant to be normal justice. This country fought for jury trials. They are not a bureaucratic problem to be managed away. Be very careful when governments start talking about “efficiency” in the justice system. Efficiency for the state often means fewer rights for the people.

Labour Heartlands

17,112 views • 3 months ago