Shabana Mahmood backed by Labour minister as Robert Jenrick wages war on 'two-tier justice': 'The Council must look again!'

The Sentencing Council has told magistrates and judges to "normally consider" ordering a pre-sentence report on an offender if they came from “an ethnic minority, cultural minority, and/or faith minority community".

Clashing with Jenrick in the Commons following his challenge on the guidelines, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood claimed that there will "never be a two-tier sentencing approach under my watch or under this Labour Government".

Discussing the guidelines on GB News, Jenrick criticised the "completely outrageous and ludicrous" move and claimed the advice on sentencing shows a "bias against straight white men".

Speaking to GB News following Jenrick's latest attack, Jones said: "We reject any kind of two-tier justice. We don't agree with the Sentencing Council and the Justice Secretary has written to the Sentencing Council, which is an independent body, to ask them to look again at this."

"It's really important and all your viewers would agree that we need a justice system which is fair, which treats everyone equally and which doesn't have any kind of two-tier system," Jones added.

She emphasised that public confidence in the legal system is at stake: "We have to make sure the public trusts the system and they're not going to trust the system if they see any kind of two-tier or some kind of system where not everyone is treated the same."

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Jones also acknowledged broader challenges facing the justice system.

"We know there are wider problems in the justice system. It takes a long time to get justice for a lot of people," she said.

The minister highlighted specific issues requiring attention: "Our courts are creaking. Our prisons are overcrowded," Jones admitted.

She emphasised that these systemic problems require solutions.

"There is a lot of work to be done in this space," the Industry Minister said.

The Sentencing Council will now need to respond to the Justice Secretary's letter.

Any changes to sentencing guidelines typically undergo extensive consultation before implementation.