Dr Kieran Mullan

Dr Kieran Mullan

Conservative — Bexhill and Battle

Speaking in the House of Commons on 13 October 2026

Debate

Courts and Tribunals Bill

Contribution

My right hon. Friend is right on both points. As he was speaking, the Justice Secretary said from a sedentary position that he removed that clause. Perhaps he does not understand his own Bill. You are retaining judge-only trials for complex and lengthy cases, and retaining the power to use delegated legislation to allow judges alone to sit on those cases. Exactly the sort of scenario that my right hon. Friend was describing would be produced. Magistrates have a degree of confidence and community support that is in proportion to the use of their powers. If we significantly increase the use of their powers, the pressure on magistrates, and scrutiny of them, is also likely to increase. Picking up on that point, I want to make sure—

More from Dr Kieran Mullan

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 Dr Kieran Mullan's full parliamentary record including voting history, expenses and all other contributions, see the Dr Kieran Mullan report card.