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Jury Trial Reform Bill Advances Despite Labour Rebellion. MPs have backed a controversial bill that would limit access to jury trials in England and Wales allowing it to move to the next stage in Parliament despite dissent within the Labour Party. The Courts and Tribunals Bill passed by 304 votes to 203, giving the government a majority of 101. But the vote exposed divisions among Labour MPs, with 10 rebelling and dozens choosing to abstain. Justice Secretary David Lammy urged colleagues to support the reforms, arguing they are needed to tackle the record backlog of cases in crown courts and speed up justice for victims. However, the debate became highly emotional. Several MPs criticised the proposals, warning they could weaken a cornerstone of the justice system. Labour MP Charlotte Nichols revealed she was waiving her right to anonymity as a rape survivor. She told the Commons she waited more than three years to reach court, describing the experience as “agony”. Nichols said stories like hers were being used in the debate in ways that felt “weaponised”. Other Labour MPs defended the bill, saying reforms are necessary to ensure victims are not forced to wait years for justice.
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