Tory MPs in Yorkshire vote against plan to keep abusers and murderers locked up as Tom Gordon says "It adds insult to injury"

Last week, Conservative MPs across Yorkshire voted against exempting 6 more offences from early prison release - including breaching stalking protection orders and sexual harm prevention orders, revenge porn, and even murder. 

The statutory instrument was meant to close loopholes in the government’s SDS40 early release scheme that saw perpetrators of these dangerous offenders released from prison early. 

However, 99 Conservative MPs voted against the measures, which passed through the House of Commons with support from the Liberal Democrats. 

It comes as the Liberal Democrats take further steps to protect victims of serious crime by closing loopholes in the early release scheme. 

Justice Spokesperson Josh Babarinde MP has tabled the Domestic Abuse (Aggravated Offences) Bill that would create a specific set of domestic abuse aggravated offences in the law. 

If passed, this would lay down the groundwork to fully close the loophole where some domestic abusers are currently eligible for early prison release under SDS40 given the broad nature of the offence they are convicted of. 

The party is campaigning for cross-party support for the bill ahead of its Second Reading in January. 

Commenting on the shocking vote, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Tom Gordon said:

“The last Conservative government drove our prisons to breaking point. We are now seeing the consequences of their failures with the early release scheme - and victims, survivors and communities in Harrogate and Knaresborough who are paying the prices. 

"It adds insult to injury that the Conservatives have now voted against exempting more dangerous criminals from this early release scheme - including some stalkers and even murderers. 

“They claim to want to be tough on crime, but clearly the opposite is true. 

“Liberal Democrats will always stand up for victims and survivors of crime, even if the Conservatives won’t."

ENDS 

The Home Detention Curfew and Requisite and Minimum Custodial Periods (Amendment) Order 2024, which was voted on by the House of Commons on 10th December, can be found online here.

The MP voting record for the legislation be found here, which was initially reported in the Mirror. 

Josh Babarinde MP’s bill  tabled on 9th December 2024, reads as follows: 

“Domestic Abuse (Aggravated Offences) Bill

A Bill to create certain domestic abuse aggravated offences; and for connected purposes.”

Second Reading is due on 24th January 2025.