Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has condemned new sentencing guidelines coming into force today as "wrong and unfair", warning they will create a "two-tier justice" system in England and Wales.
The controversial guidelines, which take effect from tomorrow, have sparked a major political row with the Government planning emergency legislation to overrule them.
Jenrick claimed the new rules "discriminate against white people, against men, against Christians" and said the justice system would be "infected by identity politics".
The Government has promised swift action to address the guidelines, which critics say create different sentencing approaches based on characteristics like ethnicity.
The guidelines from the Sentencing Council for England and Wales require magistrates and judges to consult a pre-sentence report before deciding whether to imprison someone from an ethnic or religious minority.
This requirement also applies to young adults aged 18 to 25, abuse survivors and pregnant women.
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Speaking to GB News this morning, the Shadow Justice Secretary said: "Well, in 16 hours' time, we will have a two-tier justice system in this country because biased sentencing guidelines will come into force, which discriminate against white people, men, and Christians.
"We have been raising this issue repeatedly in the House of Commons, in the media, and on GB News, asking the government to act. We brought forward a bill, but they rejected it.
"We called for the members of the council who produced this guidance to be sacked, but they rebuffed that. And now, in just a matter of hours, this will come into force.
"On top of that, we’ve now learned that the Ministry of Justice, under Labour, has produced even more guidance. This says that you should be prioritised for bail if you're from an ethnic minority, and that the probation service should take into account your culture or any historic events that might have affected you or your ancestors when deciding whether or not you should be sentenced.
"This is wrong. It’s unfair. It doesn't matter what culture you're from. If you break the law, you break the law. Everyone should be treated equally. That is what the rule of law in this country means.
Jenrick added: "Starmer and the Justice Secretary are responsible for the mess that the country is now in. A representative from the justice sector was present at the very meeting where this guidance was approved, and yet did nothing.
"The Justice Secretary has had weeks since I raised this issue with her to act, to legislate in Parliament, and to sack the members of the Sentencing Council who produced this guidance. She has done nothing.
"She’s been asleep at the wheel. Now, we’ve discovered that her own department, not the Sentencing Council, her own department has been issuing more guidance left, right, and centre, further contributing to a two-tier justice system.
"I’m afraid the situation is very clear: it is two-tier justice under two-tier Keir. We must stop this."
He later fumed: "There are just hours remaining for this two-tier sentencing guidance to be removed, or else we will wake up tomorrow in a country where our justice system is infected by identity politics. That is wrong. It is unfair, and we must stop it."
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The controversial guidelines, which take effect from tomorrow, have sparked a major political row with the Government planning emergency legislation to overrule them.
Jenrick claimed the new rules "discriminate against white people, against men, against Christians" and said the justice system would be "infected by identity politics".
The Government has promised swift action to address the guidelines, which critics say create different sentencing approaches based on characteristics like ethnicity.
The guidelines from the Sentencing Council for England and Wales require magistrates and judges to consult a pre-sentence report before deciding whether to imprison someone from an ethnic or religious minority.
This requirement also applies to young adults aged 18 to 25, abuse survivors and pregnant women.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- 'Persecuting his own people!' Keir Starmer blasted over incoming 'two-tier' sentencing guidelines as council REJECTS Labour plea
- 'Two-tier' justice plans drawn up by MoJ as judges told to 'prioritise' ethnic minorities for bail
- Robert Jenrick BLASTS Shabana Mahmood for 'sitting on her hands' as UK faces 'two-tier' guidelines: 'Humiliating!'
Speaking to GB News this morning, the Shadow Justice Secretary said: "Well, in 16 hours' time, we will have a two-tier justice system in this country because biased sentencing guidelines will come into force, which discriminate against white people, men, and Christians.
"We have been raising this issue repeatedly in the House of Commons, in the media, and on GB News, asking the government to act. We brought forward a bill, but they rejected it.
"We called for the members of the council who produced this guidance to be sacked, but they rebuffed that. And now, in just a matter of hours, this will come into force.
"On top of that, we’ve now learned that the Ministry of Justice, under Labour, has produced even more guidance. This says that you should be prioritised for bail if you're from an ethnic minority, and that the probation service should take into account your culture or any historic events that might have affected you or your ancestors when deciding whether or not you should be sentenced.
"This is wrong. It’s unfair. It doesn't matter what culture you're from. If you break the law, you break the law. Everyone should be treated equally. That is what the rule of law in this country means.
Jenrick added: "Starmer and the Justice Secretary are responsible for the mess that the country is now in. A representative from the justice sector was present at the very meeting where this guidance was approved, and yet did nothing.
"The Justice Secretary has had weeks since I raised this issue with her to act, to legislate in Parliament, and to sack the members of the Sentencing Council who produced this guidance. She has done nothing.
"She’s been asleep at the wheel. Now, we’ve discovered that her own department, not the Sentencing Council, her own department has been issuing more guidance left, right, and centre, further contributing to a two-tier justice system.
"I’m afraid the situation is very clear: it is two-tier justice under two-tier Keir. We must stop this."
He later fumed: "There are just hours remaining for this two-tier sentencing guidance to be removed, or else we will wake up tomorrow in a country where our justice system is infected by identity politics. That is wrong. It is unfair, and we must stop it."
Find Out More...