Labour Blocks Tory Bill to Resolve ‘Two-Tier’ Sentencing as Mahmood Fails to Overturn ‘Minority’ Guidelines – Guido Fawkes

Labour Blocks Tory Bill to Resolve ‘Two-Tier’ Sentencing as Mahmood Fails to Overturn ‘Minority’ Guidelines

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Shabana Mahmood’s response to criticism over the ‘two-tier’ sentencing scandal was to promise action through a hastily arranged meeting with the Sentencing Council:

“I am actually getting on with fixing the problem rather than looking for a bandwagon to jump on. That is why I have already written to the Sentencing Council. I will be meeting with them later in this week and I have made it very clear I will consider their role and their powers.”

That concluded yesterday with no results for the justice secretary apart from getting ‘assurances’ that if Mahmood formally submitted her objections to the Council they would be “considered.” Time is running out until the new guidelines on sentencing reports for ‘minorities’ come into effect on 1 April…

There have been no noises so far on the vague Labour threat to abolish the Sentencing Council. As of about ten minutes ago Labour whip have blocked the party’s other recourse – a bill from Robert Jenrick “to provide that the Sentencing Council may not issue sentencing guidelines without the consent of the Secretary of State; to give the Secretary of State the power to amend sentencing guidelines prepared by the Sentencing Council before they are issued; and for connected purposes.” Pretty clear cut…

Jenrick says: “Labour has just opposed my Bill which would give the Justice Secretary the power to stop the two-tier sentencing rules. The mask has slipped. In just 18 days we are set to have a two-tier justice system because of Two-Tier Keir.” The clock is ticking for Mahmood to find her own solution…