Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lucy Rigby and Ben Obese-Jecty

Thursday 20th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Solicitor General]

The shadow Solicitor General refers to Jonathan Hall and the terrorism review. Terrorism is, of course, something that the Government take extremely seriously. Jonathan Hall’s review has now concluded and it is right that his report—coupled with the contempt review—is considered in full by the Home Secretary, as an important step in addressing all those questions.

[Ben Obese-Jecty (Huntingdon) (Con)]

6. What steps she is taking with the Crown Prosecution Service to help ensure the effective functioning of the courts.

[James Wild (North West Norfolk) (Con)]

9. What steps she is taking with the Crown Prosecution Service to help ensure the effective functioning of the courts.

[Ben Obese-Jecty]

The effective functioning of the courts relies on sound and sensible sentencing guidelines. In just 12 days, such guidelines will no longer exist and a two-tier sentencing system will come into force on the Solicitor General’s watch. This is the fourth time that the issue has been raised by the Opposition; I hope we will have more luck in securing a direct answer from the Solicitor General. Does she agree with the Justice Secretary that the guidelines will bring in a two-tier sentencing system, and can she confirm once and for all what is being done to stop those sentencing guidelines from coming into force?

[The Solicitor General]

I remind the hon. Member that the Conservative Sentencing Minister at the time wrote to the Sentencing Council making it clear that they welcomed the new guidance. Equality before the law is core to the application of the rule of law in this country and a foundational principle of our legal and judicial systems. I am sure that colleagues will welcome the fact that the Lord Chancellor met the chair of the Sentencing Council last week, and they had a constructive discussion around the guidelines.

Attorney General’s Office: Conflicts of Interest

Debate between Lucy Rigby and Ben Obese-Jecty

Thursday 23rd January 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Solicitor General]

I agree with my hon. Friend, and I am grateful to him for making that point. As I said earlier, barristers are quite simply not their clients, and I have quoted the words of the current Conservative shadow Attorney General.

[Ben Obese-Jecty (Huntingdon) (Con)]

The current Attorney General has a track record of taking up multiple cases against the British Government. Given his previous work with regards to both Gerry Adams and the families of those making claims against UK special forces, on which matters will the Attorney General recuse himself from advising Ministers owing to clear conflicts of interest? If he is not able to fulfil the full scope of his role owing to his prior career, is his position even tenable?

[The Solicitor General]

I am afraid I could not be more clear: I have already said that where the Attorney General has conflicts, he will recuse himself.