Sentencing Bill

Lord Russell of Liverpool Excerpts

Monday 12th January 2026 Lords Chamber

In conclusion, while we continue to oppose significant aspects of the Bill, I remain grateful to all noble Lords for their engagement with it. I urge the Government to reflect carefully on the amendment relating to sentencing remarks, and I have no doubt that these issues will return to your Lordships’ House in due course.

[Lord Russell of Liverpool (CB)]

My Lords, I will not follow the noble and learned Lord who has just sat down and go into the politics of this because I do not think this is the time or place. I do, however, congratulate the Minister on the way he has managed the Bill through this House. It is an exemplary example of someone coming in from the private sector with a successful track record of leading an unusual business and transferring that expertise, apparently effortlessly and flawlessly, into your Lordships’ House. He is an example for other new arrivals on the Front Bench alongside him to learn from; a few seminars with him would do them the world of good.

I will now briefly return to a subject that will not surprise the Minister or the noble and learned Lord, Lord Stewart, which is an issue we spoke about and had meetings about: perpetrators of domestic abuse and stalkers being released earlier than they should be. The Minister has been kind enough to suggest another meeting, so I can tell him that knocking on his door will be the Domestic Abuse Commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs and the new Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman; her diary permitting, the Minister can also expect the noble Baroness, Lady May of Maidenhead, who will provide some real weight, and I gather she is one of the people who made the Minister actually think about going into public life. Finally, I will be there as the token male.

[Lord Timpson (Lab)]

I thank all noble and learned and noble Lords for their very kind feedback. I have never had an appraisal in my career; this is the first one I have had, and I will take the feedback. All noble Lords are welcome to knock on my door at any time, because I learn so much from what they bring, which makes what I am trying to do far better. I am extremely grateful to all noble Lords and my noble friend Lord Lemos for guiding me along the way on this and for contributing on very important parts of this Bill. Everyone has contributed to make this a very good Bill. Again, I thank all noble Lords and I beg to move.