Clarke to ‘look again’ at sentence discount after rape comments row

Justice secretary says ‘all rape a serious crime’ after sparking furore when he gave impression there were ‘serious rapes and other categories of rape’ The justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, is to “look again” at the proposal to introduce a maximum 50% sentence discount in return for an early guilty plea after a furore over his remarks on the sentencing of rapists. Under pressure from Downing Street, Clarke returned to the TV studios on Wednesday afternoon to make it clear that he regards “all rape as a serious crime” after sparking a major row when he gave the impression there were “serious rapes and other categories of rape”. Clarke did not apologise for his comments, but stressed that he now agreed with Downing Street that proposals to increase the maximum sentence discounts for early guilty pleas from 33% to 50% should be looked at again. He said he had not intended to cause any offence, telling Sky News: “Obviously, I don’t intend to give the impression, and didn’t intend to choose words which gave the impression, that all rape is not serious. “Every rape is serious. That’s always been my view, and that’s why I haven’t the faintest intention of changing the sentence for rape.” Clarke said he would look back at the transcripts of his interviews, adding: “Obviously it’s a mistake if I gave the impression I have any other views.” Both Clarke and his minister, Crispin Blunt, gave the clear impression in the Commons on Tuesday that the sentence discount plan – which applies to all crimes, including rape – had been given the go-ahead. The cabinet’s home affairs committee met to discuss the government’s sentencing reforms on Tuesday morning. That now appears to be back on the table. Whitehall sources suggest the final proposal may now exclude the most serious crimes, including murder and rape. Clarke had earlier taken to the airwaves in the face of a fierce reaction to the disclosure that he intended to increase the maximum discount for an early guilty plea for rapists from 33% to 50%. But instead of calming the row, the justice secretary’s media appearances and explanations only served to fuel the controversy. A rape victim broke down in tears after confronting Clarke when he appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live, telling him his sentence discount plan was “a disaster”. During other television interviews, Clarke appeared to claim that campaigners had only singled out rape because it injected a degree of “sexual excitement” into the argument over discounts for early guilty pleas for all offences. But it was his statement that no one convicted of a “serious rape” would be released as quickly as those guilty of some “date rapes” that sparked a political storm as the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, challenged David Cameron on the matter at prime minister’s questions. Miliband said: “The prime minister, when he leaves this chamber, should go and look at the comments of the justice secretary and then he should say to him very clearly the justice secretary should not be in his post at the end of today.” But immediately after question time, Cameron’s spokesman said Clarke was not going to be sacked but would have to clarify his remarks. The prime minister sought to distance himself from Clarke’s comments, and underlined the government’s commitment to increasing the rate of rape cases ending up in court. Downing Street said Clarke was under pressure from Cameron to clarify his comments. The prime minister faced down calls to sack the justice secretary, telling MPs he had not heard the interview and insisting the proposal to extend a reduction in sentence as a result of plea bargaining from one-third to half was merely out for consultation. “We have not yet decided which offences it should apply to or how it should be brought in. This is a consultation,” he said. Downing Street aides also insisted the domestic affairs cabinet committee had not yet finally cleared the sentencing green paper, and said there would be no relaxation of the penalty for rape. Kenneth Clarke David Cameron Conservatives Liberal-Conservative coalition Ed Miliband Labour UK criminal justice Rape Alan Travis guardian.co.uk

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