Robert Jenrick will promise to abolish the Sentencing Council when he addresses the Conservative Party conference on Tuesday. The shadow justice secretary aims to tackle what he claims is "two-tier justice" under the current system.
Jenrick will also pledge to crack down on "pro-migration bias" in the judiciary by sacking lawyers involved in "political activism", such as campaigning for open borders. He called on judges to come down on "scumbags that shoplift and burgle" like a "ton of bricks", telling the Daily Express: "I believe in the broken window theory of policing - if you allow so-called low-level crime it will only spiral."
Conservative conference challenges
The Tory party heads into its third day of conference with Kemi Badenoch continuing to face questions about her leadership. Polling difficulties and the spectre of Reform UK have loomed over proceedings.
Shadow foreign minister Andrew Rosindell appeared to call for an electoral pact with Nigel Farage's party. He urged right-of-centre parties to "unite together" to defeat the left and get Sir Keir Starmer (Labour) out of Number Ten at the next election.
New polling showed half of Tory members did not think Badenoch was the right person to lead the party into the next general election, though many said she was doing a good job. Jenrick was the top pick to replace Badenoch among party members polled by YouGov.
Judicial reform proposals
Jenrick is expected to say the Sentencing Council is "not fit for purpose" as he sets out plans to scrap it. "Never again can the British people face the prospect of two-tier justice," he will say.
The council found itself at the centre of controversy earlier this year after issuing guidance recommending judges consider factors such as ethnicity or gender when deciding on pre-sentence reports. The proposal was later withdrawn and the Government introduced legislation requiring ministerial approval for new guidance.
Under Conservative plans, police officers would build prosecutions against repeat offenders using facial recognition technology, with all CCTV images processed through the Police National Computer database. A judicial register of interests would be established, with responsibility for appointing judges returned to the Lord Chancellor.
Labour response and wider plans
A Labour Party spokesperson accused the Conservatives of "yet more rank hypocrisy", adding: "The Conservatives backed the proposed changes to pre-sentencing reports when they were announced and did nothing to stop them when they were in government."
The party has set out policy positions to slash £47 billion from public spending and create a removals force modelled on the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said expanded facial recognition technology would lead to more thieves being caught and imprisoned.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
