Tom Hunt

Jacob Rees-Mogg has defended juries amid criticism from some Conservative MPs after four people who removed a statue of slave trader Edward Colston were cleared of Criminal Damage .

The Statue was thrown into Bristol habour during a protest in 2020.

Responding to The Verdict , one MP suggested The Jury system " should be addressed" if it was a " barrier" to doling out punishments.

However, Mr Rees-Mogg said juries are " great sublime protector of liberties".

Historian David Olusoga - an expert witness in The Trial - said The Jury reached the decision after hearing detailed evidence over several days.

A lawyer for the defence Blinne Ni Ghralaigh welcomed the Not Guilty verdict saying: " In this case, they determined That a conviction for the removal of this statue - That glorified a slave trader involved in the enslavement of over 84,000 black men, women and children as a 'most virtuous and wise' man - would not be proportionate. "

However the decision has angered A Number of Conservative MPs.

MP for Ipswich Tom Hunt " If you've broken The Law and committed Criminal Damage you should be punished. If The Jury is a barrier to ensuring they are punished then That needs to be addressed. "

Former Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick tweeted: " We undermine the rule of law, which underpins our democracy, if we accept vandalism and Criminal Damage are acceptable forms of political protest. They aren't. Regardless of the intentions. "

And another Conservative, Michael Fabricant , said The Verdict could " give rise to other statues being damaged".

" The Cenotaph and The Statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square have been vandalised in The Past by anti-racism protesters, and there are now fears That extremists will be 'emboldened', " he added.

However, Leader of The House of Commons Mr Rees-Mogg said he did not think the Bristol verdict put other monuments At Risk .

Speaking in Parliament , the senior minister said: " I shall not be going out of here immediately afterwards and drawing a moustache on The Statue on Oliver Cromwell much though I Am opposed to regicides in principle and think they deserve to be removed from pedestals broadly speaking. "

He told MPs That monuments should be protected and only removed through " due process" but added That " one of our greatest monuments is The Jury system which is The Great sublime protector of our liberties".

" Juries must be free to come to decisions That they choose to come to on the facts That are in front of them in relation to a specific case and what they hear from the prosecuting counsel, from the defence counsel and from The Judge , " He Said .

Speaking earlier in The Day , Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said new powers in The Police , Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would close a " potential loophole" limiting The Prosecution of people who damage memorials.

The Bill - currently going through Parliament - would allow courts to consider the " emotional or wider distress" caused by damage to public property and raise the maximum sentence to 10 Years - regardless of the cost of damage.

It will also formalise The Process of applying for the removal of statues, with ministers being given a final veto.

The House of Lords will continue its scrutiny of The Bill on Monday 10 January .

Source of news: bbc.com