Andy Slaughter

Andy Slaughter

Labour — Hammersmith and Chiswick

Speaking in the House of Commons on 18 June 2026

Debate

Courts and Tribunals Bill

Contribution

The hon. Lady is also an assiduous member of the Committee, and I appreciate what she said about important respects in which the Government, without evidencing the reasons, have departed from Leveson—for example, on whether magistrates should sit with judges in the bench division. She makes a good point: because the Government have deviated from what Leveson recommended, there is a narrow window between what can happen in the magistrates court and what is left for the Crown court bench division to do. The Government will have to look at that again. Some Members may think that that is a good thing, because they are not supportive of the Crown court bench division, but we have to have a system that has credibility and works seamlessly.

More from Andy Slaughter

Other recent Hansard contributions by the same speaker.

About Hansard

Hansard is the official verbatim record of proceedings in the UK Parliament. Every word spoken in the Commons and Lords is recorded and published — this page is a single contribution from that record.

For Andy Slaughter's full parliamentary record including voting history, expenses and all other contributions, see the Andy Slaughter report card.

Partner sites