- Scott Benton has welcomed that Blackpool South will benefit from further measures from the Conservative Government to tackle crime and strengthen national security.
- The Conservative Government is introducing tougher sentences for criminals, increasing police powers, enhancing support for victims of crime, strengthening the parole system and creating new measures to protect national security.
- Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives are taking the necessary, long-term action to keep our streets safe –reducing crime, protecting victims and making the country safer for everyone.
Scott Benton MP has welcomed new measures from the Conservative Government in the King’s Speech 2023 and the benefits they will bring to people across Blackpool South, adding to existing measures to tackle crime and terrorism whilst ensuring victims get the support they need.
New measures include the Sentencing Bill, which will keep rapists and other serious sexual offenders behind bars for the whole of their custodial terms and make Whole Life Orders available for murderers who kill with sexual or sadistic conduct, so life really will mean life. And for offenders who would have served fewer than twelve months in prison, judges will have the discretion to suspend their custodial sentences in favour of suspended sentences with tough conditions, which have a much lower reoffending rate, meaning less crime and more offenders on the straight and narrow. These offenders will repay their debts to society in the communities they damaged, delivering swift and visible justice that directly benefits our communities.
The Criminal Justice Bill will give police the tools they need to prevent crimes like digital-enabled crime, child sexual abuse, and child grooming. There will be additional safeguarding protections for our children and new measures against those who would harm them, police will have more powers to seize and destroy knives and criminals may face reasonable force if they refuse to appear in the dock.
The Victims and Prisoners Bill will give victims the confidence that our criminal justice system will work for them, and ministers will be able to block the parole of the worst offenders and stop those on Whole Life Orders from marrying in prison.
The Investigatory Powers Bill will give the security and intelligence services the powers they need to stop the threats to our national security.
The Conservative Government will also introduce Martyn’s law via the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill to make sure certain venues are prepared to respond to a terrorist attack following the Manchester Arena tragedy.
The Conservative Government is taking the long-term decisions needed to keep people safe in Blackpool South, to deliver a brighter future for everyone.
Commenting, Scott Benton MP said:
“If we are going to improve people’s lives for the better, we have to deliver long-term solutions.
“That is why I welcome the Conservative Government’s legislative agenda, set out at the King’s Speech – including through the new legislation that sets out measures to further tackle crime, support victims and defend ourselves from the threat of terrorism.
“This King’s Speech proved the Prime Minister will continue to break the old model of doing politics and deliver the long-term decisions needed for a brighter future.”
Commenting, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
“Today marked the first King’s Speech in over seventy years, bringing forward our plan to build a better future for the next seventy.
“Just as I have done with energy security, net zero, illegal migration and HS2, the King’s Speech takes the long-term decisions to address the challenges this country faces, not the easy way out with short-term gimmicks.
“As we take the necessary steps to halve inflation and reduce debt, we will legislate to grow the economy, by supporting innovative businesses and protecting consumers.
“To make the real change this country needs, we will bring forward bills that strengthen our society, help people feel safer in their own communities and give a sense of pride in the place they call home.”
