Starmer clashes with Sentencing Council on 'two-tier' guidance

Keir Starmer has called the Sentencing Council for England and Wales' response "disappointing" after it refused to change new guidelines that have been called "two tier".

- Eleni Courea Aletha Adu

The prime minister said the government would now "consider what we do as a result" and that "all options are on the table".

Downing Street rejected claims that the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, had been humiliated by the independent body, which devises judges' sentencing guidelines.

When the new guidance was announced at the beginning of this month, Mahmood responded to criticism that it discriminated against white men by saying there would "never be a two-tier sentencing approach" on her watch.

But the council announced yesterday that "the guideline did not require revision" and blamed a "widespread misunderstanding" for the backlash.

Starmer said Mahmood was "continuing to engage on this, and we're considering our response. All options are on the table, but I'm disappointed at this outcome, and now we will have to consider what we do as a result."