Labour prepared to abandon principle of fair trials
June 21, 2005 6:00 PM
The Government have announced that Juries will be abolished in complex fraud trials. The Attorney General will unveil plans to enact a change in the law that will allow a single judge to sit on complex fraud trials. The practice of trying defendants by a panel of 12 jurors stretches back 800 years.Commenting on the Government's announcement, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Mark Oaten MP said "Yet again Labour seem prepared to abandon the principle of fair trials and justice that have served this country well for decades. The trial by jury is at the heart of our judicial system. For complex trials like fraud it should be possible to create banks of jurors with the skills required to deal with these cases."
David Heath MP, Shadow Leader of the House said "The Government seem determined to erode the principle of jury trial. We are just as determined to protect it. This announcement means they have reneged on solemn assurances given at the time of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 that no changes would be bought in until there had been substantial consultation between the parties. No such discussions have taken place despite repeated Liberal Democrat requests. We must assume that the word of the former Home Secretary, David Blunkett, is worth nothing. Liberal Democrats in both houses will strongly resist these proposals."
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