Member

I do not intend to hold up the House further, as I wish to ensure that others with interests in other Lords amendments have the opportunity to speak. I have made it clear that we welcome some of the provisions in this Bill, but I have also made it clear that regardless of anything positive in the Bill, it is enormously damaging to one of the core purposes of our justice system, which is ensuring that victims of serious crime and their families are able to secure true justice. It is a matter of personal regret that I was not able to persuade Labour Members of the damage that the Bill will do to that. It will now fall on the shoulders of victims and families in future months and years to speak up when their perpetrators walk out of jail early, and even more concerningly, when victims are stalked, abused, raped or violently attacked by criminals who should have been in prison. It will fall on them to speak out and get these measures reversed. Those of us on the Conservative Benches will be there to help them raise their voices. I hope, by then, that at least some Labour Members will do the same.