The Prime Minister is facing greater opposition as a former member of his Cabinet backs a coup against him. Angela Rayner is reportedly concerned about the Government’s plans to reform the judiciary. David Lammy, Deputy Prime Minister, has stated that plans to scrap jury trials for crimes carrying sentences of less than three years will help reduce the backlog facing courts and expedite justice for victims. Rayner is joined by around 50 Labour MPs who are opposing plans to halve the number of jury trials, with allies saying she is concerned that it will allow Reform to weaponise the changes, furthering the party’s narrative of the Government versus the public.
Others attempting to block the plans have argued that they are “unjust”, creating an “us-and-them system” that penalises the working class, and will erode civil liberties, comparing the plans to Putin’s Russia. Though just 15 Labour MPs signed a statement calling on the Government to “abandon” the plans, it is reported that three times that number have privately backed the rebellion.
Keir Starmer is facing dissent among his party over changes to juries (Image: Getty)
One Labour MP told the Telegraph: “They’ve upset quite a lot of people and it might end up with a difficult problem in the Commons. Even Reform are saying they’ll defend the juries.
“If Lammy was to set his cap out and then failed to deliver the reforms, he looks to me as though he could well be in trouble.”
They added that Lammy being ousted could leave an opening for Rayner, with Starmer having previously said that he wants to bring her back into the Cabinet.
This comes as Starmer’s position as Labour leader is called into question, with party insiders believing he will be replaced if May’s local elections go badly.
Rayner is seen as a frontrunner to take his place, but the scandal which saw her resign as Housing Secretary in September still looms over her for some. The MP failed to pay stamp duty on her flat in Hove and has yet to pay the bill.
Other potential candidates for leadership are Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell, and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
