A lawyer who mentored Sir Keir Starmer in the early days of his legal career has blasted the Prime Minister's plans to take a scythe to jury trials.

Edward Fitzgerald KC said it was 'most unfortunate' that Labour was planning to get rid of juries for all but the most serious criminal offences in a bid to cut through the courts backlog.

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy is pressing ahead with plans to reduce the need for juries despite widespread opposition from the legal profession, police and crime commissioners and civil liberties groups.

If enacted, the plans will see the number of jury trials cut in half, with only crimes such as murder, robbery and rape tried by a jury. 'Swift courts' would be created within Crown courts, which hear other serious offences, without juries.

Magistrates will also be handed the power to dispense prison sentences of up to 18 months, giving them the power to hear cases for offences where the sentencing guidelines go beyond the existing magistrate limit of one year. 

Automatic rights of appeal will also be stripped from defendants - requiring them to seek permission to appeal first - and complex financial and fraud cases will also be stripped of juries to stop jurors from giving up months of their lives.

Ministers say the changes are necessary with the Crown Court backlog set to hit 100,000 cases by 2028 - but critics say they will overwhelm judges and deny defendants the right to be tried before a jury of their peers.

Mr Fitzgerald has gone against his former mentee despite their personal friendship to speak out against the plans. 

Keir Starmer's mentor Edward Fitzpatrick KC has hit out at Labour's plans to take a scythe to jury trials

He called Sir Keir's government's plans 'most unfortunate', joining a growing chorus of opposition to the proposals 

He told The Telegraph today: 'It is most unfortunate the Government has taken this position. Juries should be kept.' 

A highly acclaimed silk who was made a CBE in 2008 for his work on human rights, Mr Fitzgerald was among a select few personal friends allowed to welcome Sir Keir into Downing Street in 2024.

He has been widely described as a mentor for the future Prime Minister: Starmer was among the barristers who joined Doughty Street Chambers when it was founded in 1990. Mr Fitzgerald was one of its founding heads.

The pair wrote a book together on how and when to apply the death penalty in countries where it still remains an option for judges in 2008.