Yesterday, I joined the Shadow Justice team on the frontbench to push the government to scrap plans to release some of the most dangerous offenders early in our opposition day debate.
From September, this Labour government intends to let rapists, paedophiles, and members of grooming gangs out of prison before they have served their full sentences. This should worry all of us, but is particularly horrifying for the incredibly strong victims and survivors of these offenders, some of whom joined us in the gallery for today’s debate.
The government’s response was beyond disappointing. The government was unable to get their MPs to vote against our motion, as even their backbenchers recognise that this policy is indefensible, including Andy Burnham, who failed to turn up at all despite previously saying he shared our position. However, with the Government refusing to collaborate with us on emergency legislation to stop these releases, they appear to be playing party politics on an issue which should unite us all in defending victims.
So, despite us defeating the government in a vote for the first time since the election, ministers seem unwilling to listen to the will of the House. They owe it to the victims to take heed of their real, legitimate fears. I sincerely hope that the incoming Prime Minister will do so after all, even if he couldn’t bring himself to last night.
