Diane Abbott criticises Government for rejecting Sentencing Council guidance

Different sentencing approaches for offenders based on their race and religion would ensure ‘everybody is treated the same’ under the law, Diane Abbott said (PA) - (PA Archive)

Pre-sentencing guidelines referring to offenders’ race or religion would ensure “everybody is treated the same” under the law, Mother of the House Diane Abbott has said.

The Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said Government efforts to block guidelines from the Sentencing Council raise a question as to how seriously ministers “are prepared to take the proven history of racial discrimination in our criminal justice system”.