UK Government Considers Emergency Law to Block Sentencing Guidelines

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Prime Minister Keir Starmer express disappointment after Sentencing Council refuses to revise guidelines set to take effect April 1.

The Sentencing Council has rejected Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood's request to revise new sentencing guidelines that recommend pre-sentence reports for ethnic, cultural, and faith minorities, as well as other groups.
The guidelines, which aim to address systemic disparities in sentencing, are scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2025, despite criticism labeling them as creating a 'two-tier' justice system.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Justice Secretary Mahmood are considering emergency legislation to overrule the guidelines, with all options reportedly on the table, including potential changes to the Sentencing Council's powers.
Critics, including opposition figures, argue the guidelines unfairly discriminate against white offenders, while the Sentencing Council defends them as essential for fair sentencing and reducing disparities.
This controversy has escalated into a broader political debate over judicial independence, systemic inequality, and the balance of power between elected officials and independent bodies.