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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is set to force a vote to exempt rapists, paedophiles and grooming gang members from the government’s early release scheme.
The controversial initiative, operating under the Sentencing Act 2026, aims to alleviate prison overcrowding by releasing some offenders from September.
However, reports suggesting killers, rapists, and other sex offenders could be freed have sparked widespread criticism.
The Tories will use an opposition day debate to call on the Government to exempt “any offender who has been convicted of any sexual offence against an adult or a child, including rape and grooming, or convicted of the attempt, conspiracy, or incitement to commit such offences”, in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Mrs Badenoch has hit out at Labour over the Sentencing Act (Getty)Ahead of the debate, Mrs Badenoch said: “It is frankly disgusting that convicted rapists, paedophiles and grooming gangs are being let out early by Labour.
“We warned the Government their Sentencing Bill would do this, but they didn’t listen. Now even Andy Burnham is saying he wants to change the law, so groomers and rapists aren’t eligible for early release.
“If Labour MPs want to show they understand the fury that many people feel about this situation, they should vote for the Conservative Party’s motion and keep vile sex offenders behind bars.”
Andy Burnham, who is likely to be the next prime minister, is exploring how to tighten the scheme to prevent child sex offenders from walking free, according to The Sunday Times.
Labour former minister Jess Phillips called for “more exemptions within the release scheme”, including to keep adults who rape children in prison for longer.
Andy Burnham is exploring how to tighten the scheme to prevent child sex offenders from walking free (PA Wire)Mrs Badenoch’s party previously tabled an amendment to the Sentencing Bill in a bid to prevent rapists, paedophiles, and other serious offenders from being awarded automatic early release.
Ahead of the debate, the Conservative Party launched a petition at DontFreeRapists.com calling on the Government to think again.
Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy said: “Sex offenders like members of the evil rape gangs should remain behind bars. But Labour are letting them back on to the street.
“This is a betrayal of victims, many of whom have not been properly informed about the release of those who committed horrific crimes against them.
“Prison works – by punishing, by deterring and by keeping dangerous criminals away from the public. Serious violent and sexual offenders must be banned from being let out under Labour’s disastrous early release scheme.”
Shadow justice minister Dr Kieran Mullan MP said: “Labour promised each and every victim of the most serious offences that their preparator wouldn’t get out early, and yet the changes they have made will betray those promises.
“When it counted, the Liberal Democrats had the votes to stop the early release of rapists and chose to side with the Government instead. We are giving them a second chance.
“The Conservatives will vote to keep rapists, paedophiles and grooming gang members locked up where they belong.
“Labour and the Liberal Democrats now must decide whose side they are on.”