Tory plan to scrap judge-led Sentencing Council criticised as ‘bonkers’

<p>Ex-Conservative ministers denounce Robert Jenrick’s intention to abolish body that develops court guidelines</p><p>A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/06/the-guardian-view-on-sentencing-guidelines-rightwing-politicians-must-not-call-the-tune">Conservative plan</a> to abolish the judge-led Sentencing Council and hand its powers to the Ministry of Justice has been described as “bonkers”, “unimplementable” and “potentially dangerous” by former Tory ministers.</p><p>The shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick will announce on Tuesday that the independent public body responsible for developing guidelines for judges and magistrates in England and Wales would be closed down by a future Conservative government because it was “not fit for purpose”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/oct/06/tory-plan-scrap-judge-led-sentencing-council-criticised-bonkers">Continue reading...</a>