9 h. ago MoJ considering ‘extreme’ proposal to scrap jury trials for all but the most serious cases

The radical plan from David Lammy has been criticised by senior lawyers, who say it could ‘destroy justice as we know it’Jury trials for all except the most serious crimes such as rape, murder and manslaughter are set to be scrapped under radical proposals drawn up by David Lammy.In proposals that drew a swift backlash from senior lawyers, who said that they would not reduce court backlogs and could “destroy justice as we know it”, the justice secretary has proposed that juries will only pass judgment on public interest offences with possible prison sentences of more than five years. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago David Lammy considers scrapping jury trials for all but the most serious cases

Senior lawyers criticise justice secretary’s radical plan, saying it could ‘destroy justice as we know it’Jury trials for all except the most serious crimes such as rape, murder and manslaughter are set to be scrapped under radical proposals drawn up by David Lammy.In proposals that drew a swift backlash from senior lawyers, who said that they would not reduce court backlogs and could “destroy justice as we know it”, the justice secretary has proposed that juries will only pass judgment on public interest offences with possible prison sentences of more than five years. Continue reading...

Politics

37 h. ago Linlithgow and District 41 Club welcomes Scottish Prison boss at latest meeting

The assembled company were enormously impressed by Natalie Beal's passion, knowledge and understanding of the prison service and the justice system.

Events

59 h. ago Readers’ Letters: Boris doesn’t deserve to be the Covid fall guy

The latest from the Covid Inquiry isn’t impressing one reader

Politics

3 d. ago New Caledonia activist says France is impeding travel home after prison release

Exclusive: Kanak leader Christian Tein, who was freed from prison in June, says France is ‘deliberately dragging out’ re-issue of his passportA pro-independence leader from the French overseas territory of New Caledonia has accused the French government of “deliberately dragging out” his passport application, preventing him from flying home after his release from prison.Christian Tein, an Indigenous Kanak leader, was arrested in New Caledonia in June 2024 over allegations that he had instigated the deadly pro-independence protests that had taken place on the island a month earlier. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Readers Letters: Idea to cut teachers' contact with pupils to four days deserves dunce's cap

Suggestions of a four-day teaching week in schools appals reader

Politics

6 d. ago Readers' Letters: Politicians should be excited about helping Scotland, not football

Politicians should not abandon Scotland to watch football’s World Cup next year, says reader

Politics

6 d. ago Readers Letters: Music cuts to schools would be massive mistake

Withdrawing music lessons from Dumfries and Galloway pupils would be a disaster, says reader

Culture

9 d. ago Readers Letters: BBC should extend apology to lesbians and gays

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Politics

1 week ago Readers' Letters: Why has it taken so long to act over bus louts?

Scottish Government should have acted speedily over young people causing trouble on buses, says reader

Politics

1 week ago Readers’ Letters: Don't expect SNP government to end tragedy of homeless dying on our streets

Action, not words, is the way to save homeless lives, says reader

Politics

1 week ago Readers' Letters: BBC should not apologise to Trump over Panorama

BBC should apologise to licence payers, not Donald Trump, for dodgy editing, says reader

Politics

1 week ago Readers' Letters: Why should public purse pay for police chief's second home?

Taxpayers should not be stumping up to help pay for the second homes of public officials, says reader

Events

2 w. ago Readers' Letters: We need to look at Scotland's mental health crisis

Holyrood must get to grips with mental health of nation, says reader

Events

2 w. ago Readers’ letters: What next for our education system, who is running schools the Teachers or the pupils?

Having just read the Education secretary Jenny Gulruth’s article in Scotland on Sunday I am actually astounded with her comments like, we maybe should change school starting times because the pupils struggle to get out of bed in the morning.

Politics

2 w. ago Readers’ letters: Politicians and lobbyists to blame for our ills, not pensioners

Tim Flinn (yesterday’s letters) asserts pensioners should hang their head in shame for ruining the world by successively voting in their own interest from a huge choice of two (three at most) parties.

Politics

2 w. ago Teenager sentenced to five years after killing ‘best friend’ in highspeed crash just one day after passing driving test

A TEEN motorist who killed his pal just a day after passing his driving test has been sentenced to five years in juvenile prison. Passenger Josh Atkins died in November 2023 when Corey Owen Cooper, then 17, lost control of the car after doing doughnuts in a car park. Cooper had been speeding between 47mph and 53mph...

Events

2 w. ago Readers’ letters: Reeves should cut government spending, not increase taxes

A reader says the Chancellor must switch her focus away from tax increases which will stifle growth

Politics

2 w. ago Readers’ letters: Our monarchy is the greatest possible global advert for the UK

Readers spring to the defence of the royal family following a call suggesting the monarchy is living on borrowed time

Politics

3 w. ago Readers’ letters: Bill for new prison passes sentence on SNP waste

A reader says the rocketing bill for a new jail to replace Barlinnie is a shocking example of the SNP’s misuse of public money

Events