Member

This review sets out major reform. I know its recommendations will not be welcomed by all. By appointing David Gauke, a former Conservative Lord Chancellor, I hoped to show that two politicians from different traditions can agree on the reforms our justice system requires. I do not expect Conservative Members to join me to solve this crisis. In fact, I can hear their soundbites already. ‘Just build faster’, they will say. Well, we are building faster than they did: we have already added 2,400 places, and we are now investing £4.7 billion more. ‘Just deport more foreign criminals’, they will say. Well, we are ahead of where they were, and today we have accepted major reform to go further and faster. ‘Clear the courts backlog’, they will say, despite having created it themselves. Well, we are investing more in our courts than they ever did, and we are ready to embrace once-in-a-generation reform to deliver swifter justice for victims.