David Smith

David Smith

Labour — North Northumberland

Speaking in the House of Commons on 7 January 2026

Debate

Jury Trials

Contribution

Let me speak to the point about the magistrates. In 2012, I took part in a six-month in-depth application process to become a magistrate, and I was accepted. I was then told that because of a pause by the previous Government, there would be no recruitment. In the following eight years, we lost 10,000 magistrates, to the point that in 2019 the then Justice Committee wrote that the crisis was “as frustrating as it was foreseeable” and that “it has taken a near crisis to prompt the Government into belated action.” Does my hon. and learned Friend agree that the Opposition cannot have their cake and eat it? They must understand that the system is in a crisis of their making.

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