Justice crisis deepens with trials delayed to 2029 as Lammy pledges global law reforms
David Lammy, the deputy prime minister and justice secretary, used his first speech at the Labour party conference in Liverpool to announce the creation of an “English Law Panel”, a new body designed to promote English law on the international stage.
The initiative is intended to reinforce the United Kingdom’s position as a global leader in legal services. According to the Law Society, the sector contributes £57.8 billion annually to the UK economy and employs around 526,000 people — approximately 1.6% of the national workforce.
The English Law Panel forms part of a wider strategy by the government to strengthen the legal services industry and maintain its competitiveness worldwide. However, Lammy’s speech did not shy away from the domestic challenges confronting the justice system, with the prison population crisis and a record court backlog casting a long shadow.
Figures released by the Ministry of Justice last week revealed that outstanding Crown court cases reached an unprecedented 78,329 between April and June this year. The scale of the delays has been highlighted by the Criminal Bar Association, which disclosed that a London Crown court had recently scheduled a robbery trial for October 2029 — four years from now.
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Justice minister Sarah Sackman KC MP, speaking at a fringe event organised by the Society of Labour Lawyers during the conference, described the backlog as a “litmus test” for the department. She warned that justice delayed for years cannot be considered justice at all.
“The numbers are slightly difficult to fathom as we look at a caseload heading north of 80,000 cases,” Sackman said. “But it comes down to this: a resident in my constituency becomes a victim of crime. They report that crime. They have confidence in the police and CPS. But if their day in court is listed in 2029 or 2030, that old adage ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ is all too real. Justice that is not timely is not fair.”
The government has already signalled its intention to expand problem-solving courts as part of its justice reforms. Lammy confirmed that a new women’s intensive supervision court will open in Liverpool, the first step in a wider roll-out designed to reduce reoffending. These courts aim to provide more tailored interventions, with the goal of tackling the root causes of offending behaviour.
Alongside this, the government is “carefully considering” recommendations put forward by Sir Brian Leveson that could see more cases decided by judges instead of juries. Such reforms, Sackman explained, could help ease the backlog while maintaining fairness and public confidence in the system.
Lammy’s return to the justice brief, a role he previously held in opposition, marks a significant moment for the Ministry of Justice under the Labour government. Fourteen months into office, ministers have placed cutting the backlog at the centre of their agenda. Sackman emphasised that the government will “do what it takes” to restore public faith in the justice system.
“My commitment and the commitment of the Ministry of Justice and this government is that by the end of this parliament, we will have successfully managed to bear down on that backlog,” she said.
While Lammy’s international-facing English Law Panel seeks to strengthen the country’s reputation abroad, the domestic challenge is clear: a justice system under severe pressure, with victims and defendants facing delays stretching years into the future.
For many, the question remains whether high-profile announcements can translate into immediate relief for those waiting for their cases to be heard. With trials already being listed as far ahead as 2029, the crisis of delayed justice continues to dominate the debate.