18 h. ago Angela Constance facing no confidence vote as pressure mounts on 'untrustworthy' justice secretary

Angela Constance is under intense pressure over accusations she misrepresented the views of a grooming gangs expert and misled the Scottish Parliament.

Politics

18 h. ago John Swinney 'defending the indefensible' as First Minister ignores calls to sack Angela Constance

Angela Constance will face a motion of no confidence after being accused of misleading the Scottish Parliament.

Politics

21 h. ago How much trouble is Angela Constance in and how likely is it she will be forced out?

Opposition parties say Angela Constance misled parliament in her comments over grooming gangs

Events

35 h. ago Justice Secretary David Lammy considers plans to wipe childhood criminal records

The Justice Secretary is considering simplifying the current system to prevent people still being affected by petty crimes in later life.

Society

36 h. ago John Swinney told to sack Angela Constance after 'shocking' grooming gangs emails revealed

Douglas Ross has told John Swinney it is now ‘a test of his leadership’ whether he sacks Angela Constance if she does not quit

Events

37 h. ago SNP justice secretary Angela Constance faces calls to resign for misrepresenting grooming gangs expert

One Labour MP accused Constance of "doubling down on excuses she knew to be false and incomplete".

Society

64 h. ago EU customs union vote passes in Commons to pile pressure on Labour’s Brexit stance

MPs were evenly divided over the motion, with the deputy speaker casting the deciding vote

Politics

3 d. ago Voices: The court backlog crisis needs bold solutions to put victims first

The changes proposed by the justice secretary are a path to increasing victim confidence in the criminal justice system and to swifter justice, writes Labour MP and former crown prosecutor Linsey Farnsworth

Events

4 d. ago UK will not be haven for dirty money, Lammy to say in corruption crackdown

Exclusive: Justice secretary to announce measures aimed at countering illicit finance as well as bribery in public servicesThe UK will no longer be a haven for dirty money and dictators’ laundered assets, David Lammy is to promise as he announces a new anti-corruption strategy also aimed at tackling bribery and other misconduct across government and public services.Setting out the plan in a speech in London on Monday, Lammy, the justice secretary and deputy prime minister, will announce a series of initiatives including extra funding for an elite anti-corruption police unit. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago David Lammy faces new Labour backlash over 'undemocratic' plan to cut jury trials

The Justice Secretary was accused of weaking the system's ability to democratically serve the nation with a proposal to only have juries try the most serious of charges like murder and rape.

Politics

5 d. ago ‘A move towards an authoritarian state’: what those with trial experience think of removing juries

David Lammy’s plans to cut the the number of jury trials in England and Wales. A defendant, a victim, a barrister, a KC, a judge and a juror have concernsThis week the justice secretary, David Lammy, announced sweeping changes to the criminal justice system that will significantly reduce the number of jury trials in England and Wales. Under the radical plans, jury trials will be reserved for cases in “indictable-only” offences such as murder or rape, and “either-way” offences (those where the defendant can currently decide whether they will be tried by a jury or magistrates), with a likely sentence of more than three years in prison.While Lammy backed down on plans to remove jury trials for all cases involving a maximum jail term of five years, the move has led to an outcry from MPs, lawyers and campaigners. The Guardian spoke to a range of people who have seen juries’ work close up about their experiences and the proposals. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago David Lammy is accused of trying to justify cutting back on jury trials by 'cynically' manipulating rape case figures

The justice secretary came under fire for claiming 60 per cent of rape victims are pulling out of cases before they go to trial because of court delays.

Events

6 d. ago MSP calls for joint action to deliver new secondary school and replacement health centre for East Calder

Angela Constance has written a joint letter to the Scottish Government’s Health Secretary Neil Gray, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth and the Chief Executive of West Lothian Council Graham Hope in the hope of a joint strategy.

Society

6 d. ago Robert Jenrick: ‘I’m unashamedly provincial in my attitudes’

The UK shadow justice secretary on embracing populism, his political ambitions — and whether there will be an alliance with Reform

Politics

7 d. ago Grooming gangs: First Minister says he has confidence in SNP justice secretary who 'misled' parliament

Justice Secretary Angela Constance has faced repeated calls to resign over her comments about child grooming expert Professor Alexis Jay.

Politics

7 d. ago Labour MP warns of huge Commons revolt against scrapping jury trials as he brands David Lammy a 'liar' and 'stark raving barmy'

The Justice Secretary this week unveiled proposals to set up so-called 'swift courts' in England and Wales, where cases will be heard by a judge alone.

Events

8 d. ago I'm not going anywhere, says Robert Jenrick as he snubs Reform move

Senior figures in Mr Farage's party are pushing him to try to secure the defection of the Shadow Justice Secretary, arguing it would beef up his top team - and deal a ­hammer blow to the Tories.

Politics

8 d. ago Reform council leader accused of racism after alleged remarks about Sadiq Khan

Ian Cooper allegedly called Khan ‘narcissistic Pakistani’ and made comments about lawyer Shola Mos-ShogbamimuA Reform UK council leader has been accused of racism after allegedly describing Sadiq Khan as a “narcissistic Pakistani” and saying a black British lawyer should have “F’d off back to Nigeria”.Ian Cooper, the leader of Staffordshire county council, is also said to have attacked the justice secretary, David Lammy, in a social media post that said: “No foreign national or first generation migrant should be allowed to sit in parliament.” Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago David Lammy slams colleagues gossiping about Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves

David Lammy - the deputy PM and Justice Secretary - has hit out at his Cabinet colleagues for 'having a drink and b*tching about' Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves

Politics

8 d. ago 'Untenable': SNP Justice Secretary Angela Constance told to resign for 'lying'

The Scottish Conservatives say the justice secretary is using junior government ministers as ‘human shields’.

Society