Courts and Tribunals Bill clears Commons third reading after jury-trial U-turn
The UK Courts and Tribunals Bill passed its House of Commons third reading by 301 votes to 193 and moves to the House of Lords, the Law Society Gazette reported October 14, 2026. The government removed the Crown Court Bench Division clause that would have narrowed jury trials and added a duty to commission an independent review of differential treatment by race or socio-economic background.
Text (Law Society Gazette) → · UK Parliament
Key points
- MPs welcomed scrapping the Crown Court Bench Division but warned of extra pressure on magistrates' courts.Law Society Gazette
- Justice secretary Alex Norris added a clause requiring an independent review of differential treatment by race or socio-economic background.Law Society Gazette
- Courts minister Sarah Sackman said magistrates' courts are coping but will need more capacity.Law Society Gazette
- Sackman said judge-only trials for lengthy fraud and financial cases have strong support from investigators and prosecutors.Law Society Gazette
- The bill passed third reading 301 to 193 after Commons report stage and now goes to the Lords.Law Society GazetteUK Parliament
Sources2 articles across 2 outlets
Law Society Gazette
UK Parliament