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Legislation to restrict jury trials for all but the most serious cases has passed its first major Commons hurdle – despite a rebellion by some Labour MPs.
The Courts and Tribunals Bill passed its first vote by 304 votes to 203, a majority of 101.
Ten Labour MPs voted against the plans, while 90 didn’t vote at all.
All those who voted against are from the party’s left wing and have previously had vocal disagreements with the government on other policies.
It had been thought the government might face a larger rebellion – although Justice Secretary David Lammy was bullish on Monday that the bill would pass.
Not all of those who didn’t vote will have actively abstained, as some will have been otherwise busy.
Sky News understands that party managers were not forcing attendance at the vote.
Chief political correspondent Jon Craig said that despite the few actual votes against the bill, this was still a major rebellion and an “ominous warning for the government”.
The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, Greens, and Your Party all voted against.
The bill will now proceed for further scrutiny by MPs.
It would remove the right to a jury trial for cases concerning crimes that carry sentences of up to three years.
Under the proposals, only the most serious cases, such as rape, murder and manslaughter, would be heard by a jury.
The plans have proved controversial, with over 3,200 lawyers writing to the prime minister on Tuesday urging him to “rethink”.
Speaking during the debate, Mr Lammy told MPs: “The…
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