Fraud (Trials without a Jury) Bill

Well then, my Lords, the Government are changing their position since throughout the procedures in another place they made it clear that complexity was not an issue. There is a wider dimension to this case, which is that we are not just talking about a procedure in the context of a particular offence. We are talking about jury trial in general. If there are two principles that infuse the liberties of the citizen, they are the principle of habeas corpus and the principle of jury trial. They are both under threat from this Government. Happily, we have managed to prevent the Government from extending the time in which someone can spend in detention without charge to 90 days; but I suspect that very soon we will have another battle on our hands. We now also have a battle over jury trial—an equally important component of our liberties. The sooner we confront it, the better. I wish to seek the opinion of the House. On Question, Whether the said amendment shall be agreed to? Their Lordships divided: Contents, 216; Not-Contents, 143.