Labour calls for juries to be used in courts martial

Under the current system, a board of senior officers operates in a similar way to a jury. If the proposals are enacted, this would be replaced with the jury system used in civilian courts for serious crimes including murder and rape.

Baroness Goldie, the government’s whip in the Lords, said ministers were “keen for the review to take a strategic look at all key aspects of the service justice system”.

Lord Tunnicliffe, Labour’s shadow defence spokesman, told peers “the concept of a very serious offence like murder not being tried by a jury makes many of us uncomfortable”.