Jenrick vows justice overhaul including scrapping Sentencing Council

Robert Jenrick, the Conservative Party’s shadow justice secretary, used a speech at the party conference in Manchester on Tuesday to set out sweeping proposals to overhaul the justice system, including scrapping the independent Sentencing Council, transferring sentencing policy to ministers, tightening controls over judges and pressing for the United Kingdom to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.

Jenrick told delegates he would abolish the Sentencing Council and hand responsibility for sentencing policy to the justice secretary or Lord Chancellor, saying the current arrangements have produced what he called “twotier” justice. He pledged a judicial register of interests, a return of judicial appointments to the Lord Chancellor, and new powers to dismiss judges found to be engaging in political activism. He also said his office had identified about 30 to 35 serving judges who had volunteered for or provided legal services to pro‑migration groups or posted pro‑migration material, which he said undermined public confidence in the judiciary.

The proposals build on controversy earlier this year after the Sentencing Council proposed guidance suggesting judges consider...