Robert Jenrick slammed for ‘absolutely outrageous set of remarks’
Robert Jenrick had his comments slammed as “absolutely outrageous” after he questioned who in government is acting as an “obstacle” to easing the court backlog.
The shadow justice secretary told MPs the court backlog is growing by 500 cases every month, with no date set for when it will come down.
He said: “Victims are being forced to put their lives on hold whilst they wait for a trial date, and yet today at the Old Bailey half of all the court rooms sit empty.
“The Lady Chief Justice said that there are 4,000 additional sitting days available that could be used now. Who is the obstacle to resolving this? Is it the justice secretary [Shabana Mahmood], who is content for rape trials to be scheduled as far off as 2027, or is it the chancellor [Rachel Reeves], and the justice secretary has just had rings run around her by the Treasury?”
Mahmood responded: “What an absolutely outrageous set of remarks, completely forgetting that only six months ago it was his government that was in charge and it was a government that he was part of that all but ran our justice system into the ground.
“I don’t recall him standing up speaking about delays for rape victims, or indeed any other kind of victim, when he was on this side of the House. I’m glad he’s now realised that the system ought to try and put victims first.
“His critique would have more force if it were not for the fact that this is the government that upon coming to office only six months ago has increased crown court sitting capacity by 2,500 days.”
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