The UK government has proposed plans to impose life sentences on offenders found guilty of murders motivated by sexual or sadistic intent. The measures will be announced by King Charles in his first speech as monarch, known as the King’s Speech, which outlines the government’s plan for the upcoming year during the State Opening of Parliament. The bill also includes a provision to prevent prisoners from marrying, as well as legislation to compel criminals’ appearance in court.
Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, and the Conservatives expect the bill plans to become essential prior to the general election, which is slated for next year. Approximately one-third of around 20 bills that will be presented during the King’s Speech have been carried forward from earlier sessions or have previously been announced in some form. This provides an opportunity for the Conservatives to highlight significant policies and to create political divides before the election.
The government has announced that three crime bills for England and Wales will be introduced, including the Sentencing Bill, Criminal Justice Bill, and Victims and Prisoners Bill. The Sentencing Bill, in particular, fulfills previous government assurances that offenders found guilty of sexual or sadistic murders will receive whole-life orders, which implies they have no expectation of release.
Labour Party’s shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said that the Conservatives were merely re-packaging ideas and used the most significant event on the parliamentary calendar for it. Mahmood further claimed the criminal justice system was decaying due to ineffective government for 13 years.
Traditionally, the State Opening of Parliament commences with the King in a carriage travelled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster, where the speech is delivered. The speech itself is written by the government, and the monarch reads it in a neutral tone to avoid promoting any political bias. MPs convene in the House of Commons to discuss the content after roughly two hours. The end of the debate will culminate with voting, though it is viewed as symbolic, and it is rare for the government to lose
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