Dozens of Tory MPs, including one former prime minister and five former Cabinet ministers, have launched a bid to stop Rishi Sunak from allowing dangerous prisoners to walk free to alleviate overcrowding in jails.
37 MPs have signed amendments led by Suella Braverman which seek to toughen up the legislation to ensure that dangerous criminals or those who are at risk of reoffending are prevented from walking free without jail time.
The Sentencing Bill aims to reduce pressure on the prison estate - but the former Home Secretary has argued it will "put public safety at risk".
The legislation includes a presumption to suspend custodial sentences of 12 months or less, along with the extension of the Home Detention Curfew eligibility - a scheme which allows some people to be released early from custody if they have a suitable address to go to.
Dozens of Tory MPs have put their names on amendments to the Government's Sentencing Bill to ensure dangerous prisoners go to jail
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The amendments have now been signed by 36 Tory MPs, including former PM Liz Truss, former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick and veteran backbemcher Sir John Hayes.
Lee Anderson, who this week defected to Reform UK after losing the Tory whip, also put his name on the amendments.
One of the amendments seeks to ensure that suspended sentences will not be handed to any criminals who are seen to have a "significant risk" of reoffending, or if they are thought to pose a danger to the public.
Braverman has also tabled an amednment dubbed the "five strikes and you're out", which would ensure that jail is a starting point for repeat offenders.
It would also mean that those who have been convicted of 45 crimes must be hit with a two-year mandatory custodial sentence each time they are convicted of a further serious offence.
Writing in the Telegraph, Braverman argued that "short sentences are an important deterrent against criminality".
She warned: "Without a short stint in prison, many of these criminals will no doubt go on to re-offend. A tag, a caution or community order will not provide justice for the victim of a mugging or a violent offence".
This comes amid growing concern about the Government's approach to crime. Just this morning, the Justice Secretary announced that some prisoners could be released up to two months early to reduce overcrowding in jails in England and Wales.
Alex Chalk said the policy would apply to "certain low-level offenders" only.
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37 MPs have signed amendments led by Suella Braverman
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Last year, he said that "less serious offenders" could be released as many as 18 days early. But this has now been extended to between 35 and 60 days.
Shabana Mahmood, the Shadow Justice Secretary, said the situation is a "crisis of the Tories' own making", warning that the public will be put at risk.
She said: "Successive Conservative governments have failed to build enough prison places.
"This has led to them granting early release to violent criminals, domestic abusers, and burglars."
