In Parliament - Shabana Mahmood

Take a look at the feed below for a snapshot of my latest work in Parliament.

Prison Capacity

Ministry of Justice

Written Ministerial Statements

This Government inherited a prison system at the point of crisis. We took swift and decisive action to stabilise it, but we knew that was a first step. This is why, in October, I appointed the Rt...

Judicial Conduct Investigations Office Annual Report 2023–2024

Ministry of Justice

Written Ministerial Statements

With the concurrence of the Lady Chief Justice, I will today publish the seventeenth annual report of the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO). The JCIO supports the Lady Chief Justice...

Use of PAVA in public sector Young Offender Institutions in England

Ministry of Justice

Written Ministerial Statements

This Government inherited a crisis in our criminal justice system. This extends to the Children and Young People’s Secure Estate which has seen increased levels of violence and instability...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

If the hon. Lady will forgive me, I will make more progress. I think I have been more than generous. That brings me to the Bill before us today. While the updated Sentencing Council guidelines...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

I have ordered a wider review of all guidance across all the MOJ’s work in so far as it relates to equality before the law to make sure that the problems we have uncovered here are not...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

However, it is always up to the people in this House, if they feel that a law is being applied in ways that were not intended, to put that law right. I am afraid the right hon. Member’s...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

The Sentencing Council might argue, rightly, that given the guideline was welcomed by the former Government, it probably thought it was on safer ground than I consider it to be. However, there is...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

I have engaged constructively with the Sentencing Council and will continue to do so, and I am in the process of legislating to prevent this imposition guideline from ever coming into force. It...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

It is right that, moving at pace, I have sought to have a targeted Bill that deals with this particular imposition guideline. I have made it very clear that I am conducting a wider review of the...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

I have had constructive conversations with the Sentencing Council, and I have made it very clear that I do not really do personal. I certainly would not do it in relation to the judiciary, whose...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

For me, one of the most moving parts of the parliamentary day is when the day starts with prayers. Those are Christian prayers, and I am of the Muslim faith, but I always find it moving to be...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

It certainly does not undermine the independence of the judiciary. There is a long tradition of campaigners, including my right hon. Friend, who have a lengthy track record of campaigning on...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

The right hon. and learned Gentleman is right. That is why we have offered the additional context in the explanatory notes. Personal characteristics and personal circumstances have, over the...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. In fact, we fully support section 30 of the Sentencing Act 2020—the sentencing code—which makes it clear that a court must obtain a...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

The purpose of the pre-sentence reports, used properly, is to provide the court with the full context of the offending behaviour. That enables the court to ensure that when it imposes a custodial...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

They did not differ in any substantial way. All the guidelines, in so far as they concern issues relating to race, religion, culture or belief, are exactly the same as those to which the Justice...

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill

Commons debates

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. When I spoke in this House on 1 April, I set out the Government’s intention to introduce emergency legislation, because I believe...

Topical Questions

Shabana Mahmood made a speech in the House of Commons

I thank the Chair of the Justice Committee for raising an important issue for his own constituents that also has wider significance. I will publish the full terms of reference and place them in...

Topical Questions

Shabana Mahmood made a speech in the House of Commons

The right hon. Member will know that the issue at the moment is that transcripts have to be physically transcribed by hand by a human listening back to what was said and done in court....

Topical Questions

Shabana Mahmood made a speech in the House of Commons

I thank my hon. Friend for her comments, for her support and for assiduously representing the needs of her constituents. As I said, the inquiry will be chaired by Her Honour Deborah Taylor, who...