Robert Jenrick’s proposal to eliminate the Sentencing Council has been strongly criticized as a “deceptive tactic.” The Shadow Justice Secretary is facing accusations of further eroding the judiciary’s independence in favor of empowering politicians.
During a speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on Tuesday, Jenrick is set to criticize the Sentencing Council for diluting sentences and advocate for increased ministerial authority over sentencing policy. He is expected to outline plans to give ministers control over sentencing decisions.
Amid ongoing criticisms from Jenrick regarding what he perceives as activist judges injecting politics into court proceedings, the Labour party labeled the announcement as another display of hypocrisy following the Conservative Party’s management of the justice system over 14 years.
A significant review of sentencing practices highlighted the gradual rise in prison terms, coupled with insufficient prison infrastructure under Conservative governance, as key contributors to overcrowded prisons. Labour’s spokesperson condemned the Conservatives for neglecting the justice system, resulting in overcrowded prisons, overwhelmed courts, and diminished public trust in the judicial process.
The government’s recent move to restrict the Sentencing Council’s activities follows a dispute over perceived unequal justice systems. Ministers have forbidden the independent body from issuing sentencing guidelines to judges after criticizing the Council for suggesting factors like ethnicity or gender be considered in pre-sentence reports.
In his upcoming address, Jenrick will emphasize the need to prevent a two-tier justice system under Keir Starmer and ensure equal treatment for all individuals regardless of their backgrounds. The President of the Law Society of England and Wales, Richard Atkinson, reiterated the importance of maintaining judicial independence and upholding the rule of law through sentencing guidelines that balance consistency with judicial discretion.
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