What advice she has given the Government on the potential impact of removing jury trials in certain circumstances on the rule of law.

What advice she has given the Government on the potential impact of removing jury trials in certain circumstances on the rule of law.

The Government inherited a justice system on the brink. The record backlogs mean that victims are facing devastating delays for justice. This Government continues to invest in our courts, but vital reforms are needed too. The Prime Minister and the Justice Secretary have rightly listened to the strength of feeling...

The Government inherited a justice system on the brink. The record backlogs mean that victims are facing devastating delays for justice. This Government continues to invest in our courts, but vital reforms are needed too. The Prime Minister and the Justice Secretary have rightly listened to the strength of feeling...

The Government have finally performed another U-turn, rightly retaining trial by jury following widespread concern in this House. However, the Government still intend to allow judge-only courts for complex cases, yet they have not defined what complex means. That risks mission creep and has attracted significant concern from organisations including...

The Government have finally performed another U-turn, rightly retaining trial by jury following widespread concern in this House. However, the Government still intend to allow judge-only courts for complex cases, yet they have not defined what complex means. That risks mission creep and has attracted significant concern from organisations including...

It seems to me that the Opposition oppose every one of Lord Leveson’s recommendations. The Conservatives are the party that created the Crown court backlog, and yet they oppose every measure that we devise to deal with it. When are they going to come up with proposals of their own?...

It seems to me that the Opposition oppose every one of Lord Leveson’s recommendations. The Conservatives are the party that created the Crown court backlog, and yet they oppose every measure that we devise to deal with it. When are they going to come up with proposals of their own?...

I call the shadow Attorney General.

I call the shadow Attorney General.

Having spent many months arguing for the abolition of most jury trials, can the Attorney General explain to the House how she now thinks that they are indispensable? Does she accept that, while jury trials are indispensable, an Attorney General forced to perform such a spectacular U-turn may not be?

Having spent many months arguing for the abolition of most jury trials, can the Attorney General explain to the House how she now thinks that they are indispensable? Does she accept that, while jury trials are indispensable, an Attorney General forced to perform such a spectacular U-turn may not be?

This will be complete news to the Opposition, but we do occasionally listen to what this House and the professions have said. We are going forward with proposals that will tackle the backlog. The Opposition never want to talk about the backlog because they caused it. We are looking for...

This will be complete news to the Opposition, but we do occasionally listen to what this House and the professions have said. We are going forward with proposals that will tackle the backlog. The Opposition never want to talk about the backlog because they caused it. We are looking for...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the strength of the rule of law in the Republic of Zambia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the strength of the rule of law in the Republic of Zambia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Zambian Government on a) human rights and b) the rule of law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Zambian Government on a) human rights and b) the rule of law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the European Union and other European partners on the potential implications of the recent operations in Türkiye for human rights and the rule of law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the European Union and other European partners on the potential implications of the recent operations in Türkiye for human rights and the rule of law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government press release entitled Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities, published on 9 September 2026, what assessment has been made of the role of teaching British history, democratic institutions and the rule...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government press release entitled Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities, published on 9 September 2026, what assessment has been made of the role of teaching British history, democratic institutions and the rule...

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Malta about the implementation of the recommendations of the independent public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia relating to the protection of journalists, media freedom and the rule of law.

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Malta about the implementation of the recommendations of the independent public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia relating to the protection of journalists, media freedom and the rule of law.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of changes to jury trials in the Courts and Tribunals Bill on (1) the Crown Court backlog, and (2) the rule of law.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of changes to jury trials in the Courts and Tribunals Bill on (1) the Crown Court backlog, and (2) the rule of law.

Lords motion to take note of the thirteenth report of the Constitution Committee on The rule of law: holding the line against tyranny and anarchy (HL 211 2024-26). Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of the thirteenth report of the Constitution Committee on The rule of law: holding the line against tyranny and anarchy (HL 211 2024-26). Agreed to on question.

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to introduce this debate as chair of the Constitution Committee.

Noble Lords will have heard many times politicians and others praying in aid adherence to the rule of law and avowing its importance. Yet very few people seem to understand what it represents and...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to introduce this debate as chair of the Constitution Committee.

Noble Lords will have heard many times politicians and others praying in aid adherence to the rule of law and avowing its importance. Yet very few people seem to understand what it represents and...

My Lords, it was a great privilege to serve on the Constitution Committee and a great pleasure to serve under the chairmanship of the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, particularly for this important report. As the House might expect, he conducted the committee with tremendous brio and a great sense of...

My Lords, it was a great privilege to serve on the Constitution Committee and a great pleasure to serve under the chairmanship of the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, particularly for this important report. As the House might expect, he conducted the committee with tremendous brio and a great sense of...

I declare an interest as a serving member of the supplementary panel of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

The report of the Constitution Committee, to which I contributed as a member, is a timely reminder of the importance of the rule of law as a vital constitutional safeguard. It...

I declare an interest as a serving member of the supplementary panel of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

The report of the Constitution Committee, to which I contributed as a member, is a timely reminder of the importance of the rule of law as a vital constitutional safeguard. It...

My Lords, I am told that we should never start a speech with an apology, but I sincerely apologise if I have to leave before the end of the debate to get back up to Scotland—I had not expected the debate to be taken so late. I did not want...

My Lords, I am told that we should never start a speech with an apology, but I sincerely apologise if I have to leave before the end of the debate to get back up to Scotland—I had not expected the debate to be taken so late. I did not want...

My Lords, it is a particular pleasure not only to follow the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, who, happily, is restored to full health, but to find oneself on the same side of the argument as him, because for a good many years in another place, I had to suffer being...

My Lords, it is a particular pleasure not only to follow the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, who, happily, is restored to full health, but to find oneself on the same side of the argument as him, because for a good many years in another place, I had to suffer being...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the honourable—

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the honourable—