Andy Burnham poised to ditch Keir Starmer's judge-only courts in major Labour U-turn

But the expected climbdown would leave another major restriction on jury trials intact.

Ministers are still said to be planning to strip defendants accused of "either-way" offences of their ability to choose to have their case heard in the Crown Court.

Under the existing Courts and Tribunals Bill, the decision over whether those cases are dealt with by magistrates or sent to the Crown Court would instead rest with the courts.

Either-way offences cover a wide range of crimes which, depending on their seriousness, can currently be dealt with in either court.

The reforms were initially pursued by Sir Keir and his then Justice Secretary David Lammy

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The Bill also paves the way for judge-only Crown Court trials in either-way cases where a defendant would be likely to receive a prison sentence of no more than three years.

The most serious crimes, which can only be tried on indictment, would continue to be heard by a jury.

Sir Keir's government presented the overhaul as a way of freeing up court capacity as the criminal justice system struggles with more than 80,000 outstanding Crown Court cases.

But the proposals encountered fierce resistance from lawyers and sparked the threat of a significant Labour rebellion.

Mr Burnham had already signalled his unease over the shake-up before entering Downing Street

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Between 60 and 90 Labour MPs are understood to have raised concerns or threatened to vote against Sir Keir's restrictions.

One senior Labour rebel told The Telegraph that abandoning judge-only courts would “massively reduce” the number of MPs prepared to revolt, although they remained opposed to the separate change affecting defendants' right to choose a Crown Court trial.

They said: “I would rebel because removing the right to elect for trial in the crown court is still jury trial curtailment in all but name, but it’s a lot easier to swallow than jury trial curtailment in the Lammy version.”

The potential U-turn comes ahead of the Courts and Tribunals Bill's return to the Commons next month, when the Government is expected to set out how it intends to alter the legislation.

Justice Secretary Alex Norris indicated this week that ministers were prepared to make changes, telling MPs: “If they have concerns and wish to see things changed, let us have that conversation.”

The prospect of judge-only courts being dropped has also been welcomed by the Bar Council.

Its chairman Kirsty Brimelow KC said: “It is encouraging that the Government may now be listening and stepping away from setting up a court with a single judge rather than a jury.

“Parliament has decided certain offences are so serious to the public or defendant that the defendant is entitled to elect a jury trial. If this election is removed, what criteria would be applied? Would there be an appeal?

“The backlog in magistrates’ courts is rising much faster in the crown courts. This change might simply increase delays in the magistrates’ courts.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “We inherited a court system in crisis and victims waiting too long for justice. The Lord Chancellor has made it a priority to reduce the backlog and ensure cases are heard sooner.

“The Courts and Tribunals Bill will return to the House in October. As the Prime Minister has said, the Lord Chancellor is considering a wide range of views on this legislation.”