Labour soft on crime, say Lib Dems

1.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 25th Jun 2006

Andrew Simpson has slammed Sally Keeble's hypocrisy on sentencing policy in the wake of revelations that since 2000, 53 people serving life sentences have been released after serving less than 6 years.

Commenting on her recent letter to the Chronicle & Echo Andrew said: "Sally Keeble made a feeble attempt to shift the blame on the judge for saying 'his hands were tied'. I notice she didn't mention that she was partially responsible for tying them, by voting for the legislation that obligated the judge to reduce his sentence because of the guilty vote.

Earlier this month Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Nick Clegg criticised the government's reaction to the media storm saying: "On the same day that they admit they are behind schedule on implementing their last piece of sentencing regulations, they try to get themselves out of a hole by launching yet more panic legislation.

"There is a strong case for a wholesale review of our sentencing regime, but a short term legislative fix is not the answer."

Despite ample opportunity to redress the balance, having introduced over 40 bills over the last 9 years, Labour have failed to deal with crime and justice adequately.

Andrew added: "It is fast becoming apparent that contrary to the government's finger-pointing, their actions prove they themselves who are soft on crime."

To find out more about Lib Dem policy on crime and justice go to: http://www.libdems.org.uk/justice/