A downright liberty

摘要

Trial by jury has long been a cornerstone of British justice, and an irritation to those in power. So it is proving again. Whenever proposals to restrict the right to jury trial have been mooted over the past decade, they were shelved, not least because of fierce opposition from leaders of the Labour Party. Tony Blair declared that "fundamental rights to justice cannot be driven by administrative convenience." Jack Straw, as shadow home secretary, argued such restrictions would be "not only wrong but short-sighted." Now Mr Straw, as Britain's current home secretary and with Mr Blair's strong support, is ramming through Parliament the very restrictions which Labour so eloquently opposed before taking office.