Gareth Roberts
@garethroberts3.bsky.social
Welsh/Cymro, Barrister, occasional contributor to Byline Times; author of Whatever Happened To Billy Parks? (Winner of the Jerwood Prize 2014) + Confessions of a Barrister, also enthusiastic rugby coach and collector of vinyl records - what’s not to like!
Pinned
I don’t want to be angry anymore. I want to talk about ideas, old footballers, bands I loved and bands I could grow to love.
I don’t want to be hated, but I’m happy to be proved wrong.
I want to find optimism.
And yes, amongst all of this I’m happy to look at dog videos.
I don’t want to be hated, but I’m happy to be proved wrong.
I want to find optimism.
And yes, amongst all of this I’m happy to look at dog videos.
Wrote this for @bylinetimes.bsky.social - trial by jury is something precious that we must keep, because once it's gone, it's gone forever.
🔴‘Scrapping Jury Trials Is an Attempt to Fix a Broken Justice System by Smashing It to Pieces’
Taking away the fundamental right to be tried by a jury of your peers would be a disastrous move by Keir Starmer’s Government, argues barrister Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/s...
Taking away the fundamental right to be tried by a jury of your peers would be a disastrous move by Keir Starmer’s Government, argues barrister Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/s...
'Scrapping Jury Trials Is an Attempt to Fix a Broken Justice System by Smashing It to Pieces'
Taking away the fundamental right to be tried by a jury of your peers would be a disastrous move by Keir Starmer's Government, argues barrister Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Wrote this for @bylinetimes.bsky.social - trial by jury is something precious that we must keep, because once it's gone, it's gone forever.
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
🔴‘Scrapping Jury Trials Is an Attempt to Fix a Broken Justice System by Smashing It to Pieces’
Taking away the fundamental right to be tried by a jury of your peers would be a disastrous move by Keir Starmer’s Government, argues barrister Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/s...
Taking away the fundamental right to be tried by a jury of your peers would be a disastrous move by Keir Starmer’s Government, argues barrister Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/s...
'Scrapping Jury Trials Is an Attempt to Fix a Broken Justice System by Smashing It to Pieces'
Taking away the fundamental right to be tried by a jury of your peers would be a disastrous move by Keir Starmer's Government, argues barrister Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:54 AM
🔴‘Scrapping Jury Trials Is an Attempt to Fix a Broken Justice System by Smashing It to Pieces’
Taking away the fundamental right to be tried by a jury of your peers would be a disastrous move by Keir Starmer’s Government, argues barrister Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/s...
Taking away the fundamental right to be tried by a jury of your peers would be a disastrous move by Keir Starmer’s Government, argues barrister Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/s...
Labour's proposal to remove trial by jury for all but the most 'serious offences' is a fundamental betrayal of the fundamental principle that we all have the right to be tried by our peers. All this will do is corrupt the system as lawyers will try to have their cases tried by certain judges.
November 25, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Labour's proposal to remove trial by jury for all but the most 'serious offences' is a fundamental betrayal of the fundamental principle that we all have the right to be tried by our peers. All this will do is corrupt the system as lawyers will try to have their cases tried by certain judges.
People of Britain, if you are considering voting Reform, just have a look at the USA and ask yourselves: do I want to see a Russian supporting racist, who was responsible for Brexit, the greatest act of economic and political suicide in our history, in No.10, if you do, have another think.
November 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
People of Britain, if you are considering voting Reform, just have a look at the USA and ask yourselves: do I want to see a Russian supporting racist, who was responsible for Brexit, the greatest act of economic and political suicide in our history, in No.10, if you do, have another think.
America. Americans. What the actual fuck is going on?
November 21, 2025 at 2:06 PM
America. Americans. What the actual fuck is going on?
No no no no no!!!
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul
Exclusive: Courts minister says change needed to stop criminals opting for juries to delay cases, sometimes by years, and clear huge backlog
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
No no no no no!!!
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
‘Quiet Piggy’ may become my insult of choice.
Judge: ‘Mr Roberts, that question is clearly inadmissible..’
Me: ‘quiet piggy..’
Judge: ‘Mr Roberts, that question is clearly inadmissible..’
Me: ‘quiet piggy..’
November 18, 2025 at 8:48 PM
‘Quiet Piggy’ may become my insult of choice.
Judge: ‘Mr Roberts, that question is clearly inadmissible..’
Me: ‘quiet piggy..’
Judge: ‘Mr Roberts, that question is clearly inadmissible..’
Me: ‘quiet piggy..’
If you hear the words: 'we must leave the ECHR' coming from a person's mouth, please ask them which of the Human Rights that are in place to protect them they are happy to lose. 'Right to family life?' 'Right to a Fair Trial?' 'Protection from Torture?' which is it?
November 18, 2025 at 9:36 AM
If you hear the words: 'we must leave the ECHR' coming from a person's mouth, please ask them which of the Human Rights that are in place to protect them they are happy to lose. 'Right to family life?' 'Right to a Fair Trial?' 'Protection from Torture?' which is it?
I'm a member of the Labour Party: I joined in 2019 as I wanted a government that would strive to engender hope not fear, inclusivity not oppression, fairness not division. Today listening to the proposals put forward by @ShabanaMahmood I ask myself: what's the point of Labour?
November 17, 2025 at 10:38 AM
I'm a member of the Labour Party: I joined in 2019 as I wanted a government that would strive to engender hope not fear, inclusivity not oppression, fairness not division. Today listening to the proposals put forward by @ShabanaMahmood I ask myself: what's the point of Labour?
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
1975 was BEFORE Margaret Thatcher (1979).
The reason Britain is worse is because of her.
The reason Britain is worse is because of her.
November 13, 2025 at 5:09 PM
1975 was BEFORE Margaret Thatcher (1979).
The reason Britain is worse is because of her.
The reason Britain is worse is because of her.
Love this man!
November 13, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Love this man!
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
I have 3 heroes. Men I absolutely revere, who can do no wrong:
Gareth Edwards; Kenny Dalglish and Neil Young. Today, Neil Young is 80. Happy birthday sir, and may you enjoy many more.
Gareth Edwards; Kenny Dalglish and Neil Young. Today, Neil Young is 80. Happy birthday sir, and may you enjoy many more.
November 12, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I have 3 heroes. Men I absolutely revere, who can do no wrong:
Gareth Edwards; Kenny Dalglish and Neil Young. Today, Neil Young is 80. Happy birthday sir, and may you enjoy many more.
Gareth Edwards; Kenny Dalglish and Neil Young. Today, Neil Young is 80. Happy birthday sir, and may you enjoy many more.
Donald Trump's threat to sue the BBC for $1B is an affront to law. It's akin to a prosecutor in a criminal court saying that a defendant charged with stealing a bag of crisps should be sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. His lawyers should be ashamed of themselves but I guess they're not.
November 11, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Donald Trump's threat to sue the BBC for $1B is an affront to law. It's akin to a prosecutor in a criminal court saying that a defendant charged with stealing a bag of crisps should be sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. His lawyers should be ashamed of themselves but I guess they're not.
When you consider that this man is encouraging a violent uprising in the UK the fact that he is so close to creating clone armies that can be deployed as he pleases is truly terrifying.
November 7, 2025 at 1:31 PM
When you consider that this man is encouraging a violent uprising in the UK the fact that he is so close to creating clone armies that can be deployed as he pleases is truly terrifying.
Drove passed a church in my village today, it was covered in large poppies - I'm not opposed to it, but I am conflicted: are they celebrating the needless death of millions of soldiers or is it some demonstration of 'Britishness'... what are they trying say, what do they want to achieve?
November 6, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Drove passed a church in my village today, it was covered in large poppies - I'm not opposed to it, but I am conflicted: are they celebrating the needless death of millions of soldiers or is it some demonstration of 'Britishness'... what are they trying say, what do they want to achieve?
I'd like some new followers please.
So here's a gratuitous photo of my dog, Rango.
And can I add that my dog, as well as being gorgeous and clever and a thoroughly good boy, is also a progressive, liberal-minded dog with impeccable taste in music and an engaging interest in current affairs.
So here's a gratuitous photo of my dog, Rango.
And can I add that my dog, as well as being gorgeous and clever and a thoroughly good boy, is also a progressive, liberal-minded dog with impeccable taste in music and an engaging interest in current affairs.
November 6, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I'd like some new followers please.
So here's a gratuitous photo of my dog, Rango.
And can I add that my dog, as well as being gorgeous and clever and a thoroughly good boy, is also a progressive, liberal-minded dog with impeccable taste in music and an engaging interest in current affairs.
So here's a gratuitous photo of my dog, Rango.
And can I add that my dog, as well as being gorgeous and clever and a thoroughly good boy, is also a progressive, liberal-minded dog with impeccable taste in music and an engaging interest in current affairs.
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
Congratulations to all the Democratic candidates who won tonight. It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win. We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter.
November 5, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Congratulations to all the Democratic candidates who won tonight. It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win. We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter.
You listen to Reform and get the clear impression that its policies are made by middle-aged white blokes standing by bars in pubs listing the people they don't like: young people, foreigners, people with anxiety, gays, lefty lawyers. It's not how you run a country. bylinetimes.com/2025/11/03/n...
Nigel Farage Says Minimum Wage Should Be Cut for Young People
The Reform leader said cutting the minimum wage for young people would boost business, as he attacked plans to raise taxes on the wealthy
bylinetimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM
You listen to Reform and get the clear impression that its policies are made by middle-aged white blokes standing by bars in pubs listing the people they don't like: young people, foreigners, people with anxiety, gays, lefty lawyers. It's not how you run a country. bylinetimes.com/2025/11/03/n...
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
Never have I seen such a perfect example of Schrödinger's Migrant.
Zia Yusuf, asked whose PIP Reform would cut, talks about "foreign nationals". Less than a minute later, same "foreign nationals" are taking all the jobs and damning British youth to life on PIP.
🤡 Utter clownshow. ~AA
Zia Yusuf, asked whose PIP Reform would cut, talks about "foreign nationals". Less than a minute later, same "foreign nationals" are taking all the jobs and damning British youth to life on PIP.
🤡 Utter clownshow. ~AA
November 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Never have I seen such a perfect example of Schrödinger's Migrant.
Zia Yusuf, asked whose PIP Reform would cut, talks about "foreign nationals". Less than a minute later, same "foreign nationals" are taking all the jobs and damning British youth to life on PIP.
🤡 Utter clownshow. ~AA
Zia Yusuf, asked whose PIP Reform would cut, talks about "foreign nationals". Less than a minute later, same "foreign nationals" are taking all the jobs and damning British youth to life on PIP.
🤡 Utter clownshow. ~AA
The UK economy is a mess - but those who voted for the Tory's austerity programme in 2010 or 2015, or Brexit in 2016, contributed directly to that mess, so, rather than screaming about Rachel Reeves or Keir Starmer and
@UKLabour they should be hanging their heads in shame.
@UKLabour they should be hanging their heads in shame.
October 31, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The UK economy is a mess - but those who voted for the Tory's austerity programme in 2010 or 2015, or Brexit in 2016, contributed directly to that mess, so, rather than screaming about Rachel Reeves or Keir Starmer and
@UKLabour they should be hanging their heads in shame.
@UKLabour they should be hanging their heads in shame.
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
Never in the history of the US has any president openly and repeatedly called for the investigation, arrest & prosecution of his political opponents. While many continue to shrug these things off and normalize them, I will never stop pointing out that this is what autocrats do.
October 29, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Never in the history of the US has any president openly and repeatedly called for the investigation, arrest & prosecution of his political opponents. While many continue to shrug these things off and normalize them, I will never stop pointing out that this is what autocrats do.
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
"A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought"
- Ronald Reagan
- Ronald Reagan
October 30, 2025 at 3:11 AM
"A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought"
- Ronald Reagan
- Ronald Reagan
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
Reform’s only Black branch chair quits over ‘harmful’ migration debate
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform’s only Black branch chair quits over ‘harmful’ migration debate
Exclusive: Neville Watson leaves amid concerns about weaponisation of religion and erosion of community relations
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Reform’s only Black branch chair quits over ‘harmful’ migration debate
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...