Labour MPs vote to release rapists and paedophiles early in blow to thousands of victims

Labour voted to release rapists and paedophiles from jail early as Sir Keir Starmer was accused of not having "the backbone to fix Britain's prisons". The Government pressed ahead with plans to release thousands of offenders early, with some set to serve as little as a third of their sentence behind bars.

Critics warned that the plans will take a "sledgehammer to our justice system", adding that the proposals will "dismantle law and order in this country". Offenders, MPs were told, will be "laughing all the way to their next crime".

But Labour MPs voted instead to allow killers, rapists, burglars and stalkers to be let out early, prompting a wave of fury.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: "Labour wants to release rapists and paedophiles from prison earlier.

"They don't have the backbone to fix Britain's prisons, so they thought they could quietly release them onto our streets."

Shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan said: "If anyone was in any doubt about whether they can trust Keir Starmer and Labour MPs on law and order, their votes tonight have made it clear.

"Tonight, Labour MPs voted to let thousands of rapists, paedophiles and extremely violent criminals out of jail earlier.

"Victims of these sorts of crimes will rightly be appalled by this, as will the wider public.

"All the Government could do was try and deny the reality of what they are doing and pretend these releases won't be automatic when they are.

"At some point, some of those vile criminals will commit further offences when they should have been in prison.

"When that happens, Labour will need to justify what they have done to the victims and their families."

Prisoners on standard determinate sentences after just a third of their sentence under an "early progression scheme", with enhanced supervision in the community, followed by a period on licence, which is unsupervised.

More serious standard determinate sentences will have a 50% minimum.

This will be accompanied by an expansion of tagging to monitor offenders in the community.

Speaking at committee stage, former minister Esther McVey said: "This Bill takes a sledgehammer to our justice system and will dismantle law and order in this country.

"To call this Bill a Sentencing Bill makes a mockery of us all. It should be called the avoid-a-sentence Bill, for this Bill is a slap in the face to victims and will embolden offenders who will quite literally be laughing all the way to their next crime."

The MP for Tatton had tabled a number of changes to the Bill, including ensuring any early release scheme only applies to prisoners who have been sentenced to less than 12 months in jail.

That was defeated by 105 votes to 381, majority 276.

Mr Mullan said: "I have never met a victim of a serious violent or sexual offence who thinks that the present system suitably punishes serious offenders.

"I have never met a victim who thinks that what we should do is let these sorts of people out of prison earlier, but that is what this Bill will do.

He urged Labour MPs to go against the Prime Minister, claiming the Government's position that the worst offenders will not be released is "inaccurate".

Under the Conservative amendment, those who commit rape, assault by penetration, grievous bodily harm, stalking and sexual offences against children, would not be released early.

The Tories' bid was rejected, with MPs voting 182 to 307, majority 125, against it.

Responding to an intervention from Mr Mullan, who asked if rapist or paedophiles would be released early as a result of the Bill, Mr Richards said: "Sentencing decisions are for the judiciary.

"Every single offence in the amendment can be given an extended determinant sentence.

"What I've said before, and I'll say it again, is that what victims of crime fear the most is the situation that this Government inherited, where we are running out of prison places, where the most serious offenders might not face prison at all."

The Express revealed how the progression model will apply retrospectively, meaning thousands of offenders already in jail will benefit from lighter sentences.

And this newspaper told how more than 2,000 child sex offenders will also be let out early.

Labour has insisted the reforms are necessary to prevent the prison service from collapsing.

Justice chiefs feared a total collapse in law and order, with police unable to arrest any suspects because convicts were being moved into police cells.