Keir Starmer says all options on table in ‘two-tier’ row with Sentencing Council

The guidance puts more emphasis on the need for pre-sentence reports, which give details of the offender’s background, motives and personal life. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty

The prime minister has signalled he is prepared to change the law to stop the introduction of “two-tier” sentencing guidelines, after an arm’s-length body resisted pressure to scrap them.

Keir Starmer said “all options are on the table” after the Sentencing Council for England and Wales refused to back down despite pressure from ministers.