Speeches by Paul.

“That is before we even get to the cost of written reasoned verdicts. In clause 3 cases, the Bill requires judges to set out written reasons for conviction or acquittal. I have seen that particular innovation praised on the grounds of transparency, but surely if the Government’s argument is about saving court time, they…”

“That is a rather devastating critique, because it does not come from some romantic defence of tradition—attractive though that may be—but stems from a cold look at the Government’s own numbers and the inescapable conclusion that the gains appear modest and come with substantial legal risks.”

““the most effective and straightforward way for magistrates’ courts to…assist in reducing the Crown Court backlog”.”

“Colleagues will also recall the circulated letter from leaders in the violence against women and girls space, which makes the same point from another direction. It states that juries”

“and the one part of the criminal justice system where minorities were treated without racial bias. He is also repeatedly quoted as having said:”

“”

“Professor Rebecca Helm’s paper surveyed 1,015 adults and specifically isolated the views of those with jury service experience, those who had appeared in court charged with criminal offences and those from ethnic minority groups. Her results showed that people with jury service experience and people with defendant expe…”

“New clause 29 would not fix clause 3. It would not cure the problem of taking jury trial away from defendants who currently have it. It would not cure the arbitrary three-year threshold, the retrospective effect, the absence of an appeal, the risk of miscarriages of justice, or the reality that a single judge may be as…”

““a success story of our justice system””

“I will have more to say on new clause 29 later, but the debate around equalities belongs squarely in any discussion of clause 3, too. The Government’s own equalities statement says that in 2022, 26% of black defendants elected for trial in the Crown court, compared with 15% of white defendants, and that in 2021, 20% of…”

““The Lammy Review suggests that trust in the CJS, including magistrates, may be a factor”.”

“This Committee has seen written warnings that restricting jury trials could particularly damage confidence among women and minoritised groups, and that women survivors are frequently criminalised. It is therefore entirely possible for a measure to be sold in the name of helping women victims while, in fact, making part…”

“The same equalities statement also says that, from the Ministry of Justice data currently available, the Government”

“On 27 November 2025, an hon. and learned Member for whom I have a great deal of time and respect said in the Commons:”

““In 2021, 20% of female defendants elected compared to 14% of male defendants.””

“For our justice system to have legitimacy, it often depends on the public seeing that the law has been tested against ordinary moral judgment. There will be occasions when not everyone likes the verdict. I am afraid I am not a fan of the decision taken in the Colston four case, but I accept and respect it. It is that a…”

“Clause 3 has serious implications for the space where law, speech and conscience intersect. There was an abundance of written evidence that emphasised slightly different versions of the same point. The kinds of either-way offence likely to fall into judge-only trial include exactly the sorts of offences used in protest…”

“The Lammy review found that many individuals from ethnic minorities opted for trial in the Crown court whenever possible, because they had more confidence in juries than in magistrates. It also found that juries, unlike other parts of the system, convicted BAME and white defendants at very similar rates, including with…”

“Ministers repeatedly say justice delayed is justice denied—of course it is. But that slogan does not identify the cause of delay, and it does not prove that clause 3 is the right cure. Indeed, Sir Brian Leveson said that the most significant cause is “chronic underfunding”, coupled with “increased complexity” and loss …”

“It then says there is only “limited evidence” of why certain groups elect at a higher rate, although it notes:”