Justice secretary to get power to veto sentencing guidance

The UK government has proposed giving the Justice Secretary the power to veto sentencing guidance issued by the independent Sentencing Council. This move is part of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill, introduced by Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Minister. The proposed change would require any new sentencing guidelines or revisions to existing ones to be approved by the Justice Secretary before they can be implemented. This is seen as a way for the government to have more control over the sentencing process. Critics argue that this could undermine the independence of the Sentencing Council, which was established to provide impartial guidance on sentencing. They are concerned that the Justice Secretary's power to veto could be used for political purposes, potentially leading to inconsistencies in sentencing. The government, however, maintains that the change is necessary to ensure that sentencing guidance aligns with the government's priorities and public expectations. The debate surrounding this proposal is ongoing, with concerns raised about the potential impact on the justice system's impartiality.