Earlier this month, Andy Burnham confirmed his latest break from the Starmer era.

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Soon after entering Downing Street, the Prime Minister expressed doubts about his predecessor’s plan to cut nearly half of all jury trials, saying his “instinct” was to keep juries at the heart of justice.

After months of speculation, the Justice Secretary Alex Norris translated this into a series of concrete changes to the Courts and Tribunal Bill, which MPs will debate this week.

Norris confirmed the government will drop plans to introduce judge-only trials in nearly all cases likely to result in prison sentences of up to three years.

This is the right move. These offences - ranging from burglary to sexual assault - are in no way minor. Judgment by a jury of 12 diverse peers is the fairest and most trusted way to decide cases with life-changing consequences.

But welcome as this is, the government still intends to cut thousands of jury trials by the back door - via the magistrates’ courts.

In keeping with Starmer’s original proposals, magistrates’ sentencing powers will increase from 12 to 18 months, with a potential further rise to 24.

Defendants will also lose the right to choose a jury trial for “either way” offences that could previously have been heard in either the........

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