David Lammy expected to water down plans to scrap most jury trials

The UK is considering scaling back jury trials due to severe court backlogs, which has raised concerns about the implications for the British justice system. The right to a jury trial is traditionally viewed as a fundamental aspect of justice in the UK, making any proposed changes particularly contentious.

Justice Secretary David Lammy has announced plans to eliminate jury trials for cases where sentences are likely to be less than three years, a move that has sparked significant debate regarding the judicial process in England and Wales. This decision comes amid ongoing discussions about the efficiency of the legal system and the role of jury trials in less serious offenses.

Prof. David Miles, an official from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), testified before MPs that Chancellor Rachel Reeves did not mislead the public regarding the challenges facing the UK ahead of the upcoming Budget. He stated that her messaging was consistent with the economic situation she encountered.

UK ministers are advancing plans to ban political donations made using cryptocurrency, citing concerns over the potential risks to electoral integrity due to the difficulty in verifying the sources of such funds. This crackdown is expected to impact Nigel Farage's Reform party, although the legislation may not be ready in time for the upcoming elections bill in the new year.

The Bank of England (BoE) has announced a reduction in capital requirements for high street banks, lowering the reserve ratio for risk-weighted assets from 14% to 13%. This marks the first easing of capital rules since the 2008 financial crisis, as stated by Governor Andrew Bailey, who emphasized that the lessons from that period remain relevant.

A U.S. delegation, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss potential peace talks aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has expressed openness to negotiations but insists that its war objectives must be met, raising concerns about the sincerity of its commitment to peace. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is engaged in discussions with leaders from the UK and France, emphasizing the international dimension of the conflict.

David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, has recounted his traumatic experiences of racial abuse during his youth, urging Nigel Farage to apologize for alleged racist comments made during their school years. This follows testimonies from over 20 former classmates of Farage, who have accused him of exhibiting racist and antisemitic behavior at Dulwich College.

The OECD has cautioned that Chancellor Rachel Reeves' strategy of higher taxes and spending restraint will hinder consumer expenditure in the UK, despite forecasts indicating that the UK economy will grow faster than France, Germany, and Italy next year. This fiscal consolidation is expected to limit household disposable income and slow consumption.