20th April 2026
After weeks inside the courtroom, the MP says Britain’s jury system is “confusing, wasteful and deeply unfair” — and vows to take the fight for reform back to Parliament.
Fresh from completing jury service at what he calls “the worst possible time,” Rupert Lowe has delivered a scathing verdict on the system itself — not the case he sat on, but the machinery surrounding it.
Having recently launched a national political party, Lowe found himself unexpectedly pulled into civic duty. What followed, he says, was an eye-opening experience that exposed serious flaws in how jurors are treated and how the process is run.
“The system needs a fundamental overhaul,” he said, describing a culture of disorganisation and disregard for the very people it relies on. According to Lowe, jurors — ordinary, taxpaying citizens — are left in limbo for hours or even days at a time, often with little communication or clarity.
“There one day, nothing happens. The next, nothing happens again. It’s unclear, confusing and frankly disrespectful,” he explained.
While he remains a strong supporter of the principle of jury trials — having previously voted in Parliament to defend them — Lowe believes the current system is failing those who serve. Central to his criticism is the financial burden placed on jurors, particularly the self-employed.
“I don’t need the money,” he said. “But I met people who were losing thousands just for doing their civic duty. That is simply wrong.”
He argues that compensation is inadequate and that the system shows little regard for the real-world impact on working people. “Decent men and women are being messed around — losing time, losing income, and getting very little in return.”
Lowe also took aim at what he sees as a broader cultural issue within the justice system. “Time is wasted, planning is poor, and everything is geared around the process rather than the people. The accused is at the centre — but the jurors, who make the system function, are treated as an afterthought.”
Despite the criticism, Lowe insists his experience has only strengthened his resolve to push for reform. He confirmed he will raise the issue in Parliament, with the aim of improving both conditions and compensation for jurors.
And in a final twist that might raise eyebrows, Lowe revealed the name of the judge who insisted on his attendance.
“Rupert Lowe,” he said.
“You couldn’t make it up.”
