Flora Page KC resigns from the Legal Services Board to publicly oppose reforms affecting jury trials
A board member of the Legal Services Board has resigned with immediate effect in order to publicly oppose government proposals affecting jury trials contained in the Courts and Tribunals Bill.
Flora Page KC confirmed her resignation in a letter dated 11 March 2026 to the Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy. She said stepping down from the Legal Services Board would allow her to speak freely against the legislation.
In her letter, Page stressed that her decision was not related to the Legal Services Board itself. She said she had the “greatest regard” for the board and its staff, but believed she could no longer remain in the position while publicly criticising the bill.
Page argued that the proposed legislation would introduce significant changes affecting the long-standing right to trial by jury. She described the reforms as “radical incursions” into that constitutional principle and said she could not remain silent while the proposals progressed through Parliament.
She explained that she had previously attempted to oppose the policy without directly criticising ministers or the department responsible for it. However, she said this was no longer possible after observing parliamentary debate on the bill.
Page noted that the Legal Services Board operates under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Justice, although it remains independent. Because of that relationship, she said continuing to serve on the board while publicly criticising the government’s policy would be incompatible with the organisation’s working relationship with the department.
The letter also raised concerns about the speed with which the legislation is moving through Parliament. According to Page, the bill received its second reading less than two weeks after being introduced and underwent five days of committee scrutiny despite what she described as a lack of manifesto commitment and public consultation.
She also pointed to opposition from parts of the legal profession, stating that more than 3,200 lawyers had signed an open letter to the Prime Minister raising concerns about the proposed changes to jury trials.
Page further argued that the current backlog in the criminal courts had not been caused by jury trials. Instead, she said restrictions on the number of court sitting days had played a major role in increasing delays.
Her letter also criticised wider pressures within the criminal justice system, referring to difficulties facing police forces, the Crown Prosecution Service, defence lawyers and court infrastructure.
The Courts and Tribunals Bill forms part of the government’s wider justice reform programme aimed at tackling court backlogs and modernising aspects of the justice system.
Page said her resignation would allow her to campaign publicly against the proposed legislation and continue advocating for the role of jury trials in the criminal justice system.