March 6, 2025 - 4:00pm
Despite recent attempts by the BBC and Home Office civil servants to frame claims of “two-tier governance” in the UK — namely the preferential treatment of minorities — as a far-Right myth, the latest guidance published by the Sentencing Council underscores that it is all too real.
The Sentencing Council, a non-departmental public body which sets out recommendations for courts across England and Wales, has advised that a pre-sentencing report (PSR) should be considered necessary if an offender belongs to certain cohorts. These include being “from an ethnic minority, cultural minority, and/or faith minority community”. It also suggests that this should apply if an offender has disclosed that they are transgender. A PSR is an assessment of the factors that may have contributed to the offending behaviour, and seeks to provide the court with a “deeper” understanding of the context behind the crime.
Exposing the rise of modern Britain’s multicultural identitarian state, this new guidance could open the floodgates to PSRs which contribute towards much-reduced sentences for ethnic-minority offenders. This would presumably be based on the grounds of different cultural norms and religious sensitivities, totally undermining the concept of equality before the law. For example, a religiously conservative ethnic minority from a culture which does not believe in women’s rights could face a more lenient sentence for domestic abuse if the defence cites their client’s ancestry and religious beliefs. These are already enshrined as “protected characteristics” under existing equalities legislation. This would be the definition of two-tier justice.
While Labour Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood — herself a Pakistani-heritage Muslim, in the context of the cohorts included in the new guidelines — declared yesterday that the Government will not pursue a two-tier sentencing approach, there are still questions to be answered. While Mahmood has spoken of the “independence” of the Sentencing Council from Keir Starmer’s government, the Ministry of Justice remains its “parent department”.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has also flagged that Mahmood’s representative was in attendance when these new proposals were agreed. The minutes make no reference to any objections. Though Jenrick has gone on the offensive, it is worth noting that the previous Conservative government was also consulted on the proposed changes between November 2023 and February 2024.
Irrespective of whether the new guidelines are adopted, their inclusion by the Sentencing Council will reinforce legitimate concerns over two-tier governance. This was one of the main causes of the riots last summer — namely, the widespread perception that organs of the British state seek to establish additional protections for supposedly “oppressed” minorities, including those who are guilty of breaking the law. While the UK has made significant strides in terms of racial equality, the scales are now tipping to a point which risks ethnic, religious, and cultural minorities becoming the beneficiaries of preferential treatment.
State-funded bodies such as the Sentencing Council are subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), which requires them to combat discrimination, promote equality, and foster good community relations. The Council’s reckless intervention achieves the very opposite. If implemented, it would undermine legal equality by creating a two-tier criminal justice system. In turn, this will only fuel resentment among the white-British majority and ultimately weaken social cohesion. It is a gross dereliction of public duty.
Dr Rakib Ehsan is a researcher specialising in British ethnic minority socio-political attitudes, with a particular focus on the effects of social integration and intergroup relations.
rakibehsan
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SubscribeThe Sentencing Council could strengthen their argument by mentioning other countries where such an approach has not only been tried, but has led to more social harmony.
They might, if they could find one! or is that what you meant?
I couldn’t think of one, and don’t imagine that there is one. Britain continues to be a testing ground for socio-economic experiments.
All religions are now minority religions. Have they thought of that?
Or female! As reported on radio 4. Why was this missed off the list in this article.
Could someone grab a dress and identify as female/trans for the duration of the sentencing do you think ?
It wouldn’t surprise if that happened…or has it happened already?
Why not just have different laws for different groups and clear the sentencing backlog too!
Though if the victim murdered her abuser she might get a lighter sentence on the grounds that she is a woman, and therefore has been subject to thousands of years of male oppression. Even lighter if she is from an ethnic minority/religious group herself.
Throw in a disability and she would get compensation
If they take cultural difference into account when looking at domestic abuse of women they are turning those women into third class citizens, below even the cultural majority. Isn’t that sexist as well as racist?
Yes
it breaks article 14 of the ECHR , it could and would be challenged by every White male Prisoner, who could argue and with the goverment’s own legislation prove racial and sexual discrimination
Labour are’nt smart enough to understand this, but every White Male prisoner effectively has a massive big ? over their sentence
It may well break Article 14 of the ECHR but you fail to understand how it really works. In the hands of our judiciary it will be found to be essential to our compliance with Article 14. That is the beauty of a charter or constitution, it means whatever you want it to mean.
Also, it does not really matter whether it is quashed or not. The message is out there and it will be applied in spirit anyway.
Any chance sentences could be increased under certain circumstances: for example if you are a Muslim caught drunk driving?
Lol of course not. The occupiers are new rulers get all privilege.
How about applying sharia law to Muslims who rape? The penalty is death.
What a shame. Labour is stealing Reform’s thunder. Nut zero will be next.
what bemuses me is Labour really are this stupid, they where very sensitive over the claims of 2 Tier Policing and Sentencing, and this enshrines it in law
2 Tier Keir, don’t say that, hey i’m just looking at your goverment’s legislation, no conspiracy theory, it’s here B&W , you passed it
So they wan’t us to goto War, who makes up the mainstay of the British Armed forces, White Working class males, who does Labour need to win an Election , White Working Clas.
Yet they can’t hide their hatred for them, i don’t think Starmer wants to be PM anymore
He isn’t a PM. He is a despot.
Sir two tier DEI-ago is guilty of hate crime.
This is legalised hated.
This is legalised hatred.
They tax you and take your hard earned w, then they use it against you to enshrine discrimination against you in your own country into law. Why would anyone fight for this lot, the entire credentials class need to take a long hike.
Of course mot. Racism and enabling the transition of Britain to a Caliphate requires dhimmitude. Dhimmitude is just a nice name for the institutionalized racism/bigotry a Caliphate explicitly relies on.
I keep being reminded of Professor David Betz: “it’s odd. Labour are doing everything they can to promote civil war”. It is, indeed, most odd..
Everyone needs to hear that Louise Perry interview with David Betz.
Where do I find it?
Go to your usual podcast provider and search Louise Perry. The essential proposition of David Betz’ thesis is that civil war becomes inevitable when you create the conditions in which the settled majority become aliens in their own country. We’re well on the way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gid48FgiHho
Well, first attempt deleted for summarising David Betz’ principal thesis but you can read it for yourself by searching for Louise Perry in your usual podcast provider’s site
JD Vance was right when he said that more worrying was the threat from within.
Lammy and Mamood are guilty of racism. Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, is scrambling to distance herself from this debacle. But as Robert pointed out, her department was represented when the guidelines were approved. She oversees the
Sentencing Council. To pretend she had nothing to do with this is an insult
It’s somewhat contradictory that the Sentencing Council is showing increased interest in the ethnicity of criminals while the police – as reported by Neil O’Brien – are showing less, by failing to record the ethnicity of offenders.
The Probation Service can’t keep up with the current demand for PDRs, so this can only increase the delays between conviction and sentencing.
It’s also contrary to the Equality Act, by enshrining less favourable treatment for cohorts defined by a number of protected characteristics.
It’s well past time these unelected quangos were given the boot. We have elected ministers with large departments of civil servants to implement their policies so why does every department seem to have an adjacent unelected quango coming up with crazy ideas?
I really do not see how Britain pulls out of this death spiral.
The “BBC and Home Office civil servants to frame claims of “two-tier governance” in the UK … as a far-Right myth …”
How surprising that both institutions should dish out this propaganda!
“… it is worth noting that the previous Conservative government was also consulted on the proposed changes between November 2023 and February 2024.”
The Conservative Party shares the same shameful values as the Labour Party. They’re no less woke; no less committed to imposing DEI madness on us all.
… the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) …” requires state-funded bodies to “combat discrimination, promote equality, and foster good community relations.”
PSED has been captured by the DEI Woking Class. It should be abolished — no chance under either Labour or Conservative misrule.