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Sentencing Bill 2026-01-20
20 January 2026
Lead MP
Jake Richards
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
ImmigrationCrime & Law EnforcementJustice & CourtsTaxationEmployment
Other Contributors: 14
At a Glance
Jake Richards raised concerns about sentencing bill 2026-01-20 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The Government welcomes the new shadow Justice Secretary, Nick Timothy, to his role and expects thoughtful analysis rather than vitriolic social media videos. The Sentencing Bill aims to address prison overcrowding, reduce reoffending rates, and restore public confidence in the criminal justice system by increasing rehabilitation efforts and building more prisons. The Bill includes tough restriction zones for serious offenders, new judicial findings on domestic abuse, increased investment in probation services, and free Crown court sentencing remarks for victims.
Chris Vince
Lab/Co-op
Harlow
The hon. Member emphasises the importance of addressing the backlog of cases to ensure that victims can access justice more quickly. He supports the Bill's aim to improve court capacity and victim satisfaction.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
The hon. Member questions whether the Government’s approach is too soft on crime, but acknowledges the need for rehabilitation to reduce reoffending rates. He seeks assurances that offenders will be effectively rehabilitated upon release.
Derby North
The hon. Member criticises the previous government’s privatisation of probation and urges the Minister to provide further details on how the Bill will strengthen and modernise the probation system.
Matt Bishop
Lab
Forest of Dean
Mr Bishop agreed with the Minister's proposal for mandatory whole life sentences for those who murder police, prison or probation officers. He stated that this sends a clear message about the penalties for such crimes.
Carla Lockhart
DUP
Upper Bann
Ms Lockhart raised concerns regarding foreign national offenders being deported and requested a meeting to discuss the issue further with the Minister. She highlighted that in Northern Ireland, these offenders may benefit from additional EU-derived human rights protections.
Pam Cox
Lab
Colchester
Ms Cox welcomed amendments dealing with IPP sentences but asked for assurances regarding ongoing community rehabilitation while ensuring public safety. She expressed hope that the Government would continue to work on resolving challenges related to such sentences.
Lords amendments 2 to 5 concern the relationship between the Lord Chancellor and Sentencing Council. They provide guidelines for scenarios where the Lord Chancellor does not approve the Sentencing Council's business plan or withdraws consent based on maintaining public confidence. The Opposition supports abolishing the Sentencing Council, restoring power to elected Ministers accountable to the public, and giving Parliament a role in sentencing guidelines.
Lords amendment 7 proposes requiring Crown court sentencing remarks to be made available within 14 days of request free of charge. This is important for victims’ understanding and confidence that justice has been done, allowing them to consider applications to the unduly lenient sentence scheme. The amendment seeks to ensure all court transcripts are made available more broadly in future.
Mullan
SNP
Asked whether the hon. Lady accepts that as a result of the Bill, offenders will only have to serve a third of their sentence instead of half.
Amanda Martin
Lab
Portsmouth South
Replied by stating that repeat tool theft offenders will now face tougher sentencing because of a Labour Government, including tagging on release, strict movement restrictions, robust unpaid work and no-go areas that stop them returning to the places where they targeted working people.
Chris Vince
Con
Thanked Amanda Martin for her personal work to tackle tool theft which has had a huge impact on tradespeople in his constituency of Harlow. He highlighted the mental health impacts on victims and their families from such crimes.
Sally Jameson
Lab/Co-op
Doncaster Central
I am pleased that the Bill will deliver long-term and sustainable reform to our criminal justice system. It was a breakdown in law and order like nothing we have seen in modern times, because the last Government increased sentence lengths without reckoning with the consequences of doing so, adding just 500 places during their time in office. That was a dereliction of duty beyond comprehension. While the Bill includes absolutely transformational reforms that Governments of all colours should have introduced in years past, I am proud that it is a Labour Government who are introducing the reform that our justice system has long needed.
Jake Richards
Con
I want to take this opportunity to thank my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Sir Nicholas Dakin). Although I was the Minister to take the Bill through the House, his painstaking work in developing the policy was fundamental and he deserves great credit. We have taken measures to give prison staff further protections. The Conservative position on this amendment seems to have changed a few times, but our amendments ensure that there is a democratic lock around sentencing and that the Sentencing Council remains independent. Our amendments will allow for more openness and transparency in the justice system.
Andy Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith and Chiswick
I agree with the Minister on the amendments. They strengthen the Bill considerably. They bring more openness and transparency, and we welcome all the recommendations here, whether in relation to the Sentencing Council, to the prison capacity report, to the transcripts through the amendments in lieu, or to IPP prisoners.
Government Response
ImmigrationCrime & Law EnforcementJustice & CourtsTaxationEmployment
Government Response
The Government's amendment proposes providing free Crown court sentencing remarks to all victims upon request. This change aims to increase transparency in the justice system and support victims outside courtroom pressures. The timeframe will be set at 14 days, with consideration given to extending it under certain circumstances. The Minister emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in sentencing processes, detailing specific amendments aimed at clarity and safeguards for approval processes. He also responded positively to requests for meetings regarding issues like foreign national offenders' deportation. The Government's commitment to resolving challenges related to IPP sentences was acknowledged while maintaining a balance between public safety and rehabilitation. I want to take this opportunity to thank my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Sir Nicholas Dakin). Although I was the Minister to take the Bill through the House, his painstaking work in developing the policy was fundamental and he deserves great credit. We have taken measures to give prison staff further protections. The Conservative position on this amendment seems to have changed a few times, but our amendments ensure that there is a democratic lock around sentencing and that the Sentencing Council remains independent. Our amendments will allow for more openness and transparency in the justice system.
Shadow Response
None
Shadow Response
The shadow minister criticised the Bill for potentially letting thousands of serious offenders out of prison earlier, despite cross-party opposition in previous debates. He highlighted issues with independent sentencing reviews that did not consider victims' perspectives, expressing regret over Labour MPs supporting measures detrimental to victims. The Opposition welcomes some provisions but criticises the Bill for damaging victims' justice. They urge wider transparency and accountability, advocating that sentencing remarks should be freely available to all within 14 days and published online. The Government’s proposal falls short, focusing only on victim requests with unspecified regulations.
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