Labour backs Priti Patel plan to jail protesters for vandalising war memorials, sentences could be up to 10 years.

[excelsiorlef]

Labour has backed a plan by the government to jail people who deface war memorials and other monuments, the shadow home secretary has said.

Under proposals being considered by the home secretary, Priti Patel, and cabinet colleagues, vandals could face a 10-year prison sentence if convicted


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The new law could also cover some of the statues actually being targeted by Black Lives Matter protesters, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

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Asked about the proposals for 10-year prison sentences, the shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, told Sky News: "I would support the government in creating a specific offence of protecting war memorials and I would be willing to work with the government on that."

An identically named private members' bill was previously introduced in the 2009-2010 session of parliament, but it did not make it into law because parliament was prorogued for that year's election and the bill could not complete its course.

That bill also had a maximum penalty of 10 years, and defined war memorials as "any physical object created, erected or installed to commemorate those involved in or affected by a conflict or war, including civilians and animals".

The broad definition could therefore potentially encompass controversial military officers who took part in colonial wars.

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Labour backs Priti Patel plan to jail protesters for vandalising war memorials

Government considering proposed legislation that would result in 10-year prison sentences for vandals

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Qikz]

This was discussed I think in another thread but technically this is already against the law. Labour are not backing her per say more so agreeing with what is already the law as if they go against the law then the media will rip into them like crazy.

 

[Humidex]

It was;

UK Coronavirus Discussion COVID - OT

Don’t get sucked in. It was a media story to try to get Labour come out against it The maximum sentence is already 10 years https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/crown-court/item/criminal-damage-other-than-by-fire-value-exceeding-5000-racially-or-religiously-aggravated-criminal-damage/

www.resetera.com

 

[Kida]

Yeah this whole thing was just a trap for Labour set by the conservatives.. I'm pretty sure 10 years is already the maximum sentence.

 

[MrCibb]

Not a new thing, it's always been 10 years. And no matter how morally justified it is, it's still against the law. Tory, Labour, Lib Dem, whatever, no politician can be seen as coming out against that. Labour had to bite.

 

[excelsiorlef]

Maybe it shouldn't be 10 years?

 

[Jonnax]

10 years for a fucking statue.

 

[Deleted member 31104]

Labour backs Priti Patel plan to jail protesters for vandalising war memorials

Government considering proposed legislation that would result in 10-year prison sentences for vandals

www.independent.co.uk

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Criminal damage (other than by fire) value exceeding £5,000/ Racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage – Sentencing

www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Most of these statues will be valued at >£5000 so there's already a 10 year sentence possible for Criminal Damage. It's up to 14 if there's a religious or racially motivated aspect to the damage.

It's a nakedly political ploy to try to show up Labour, who haven't fell for it.

 

[excelsiorlef]

So if (honestly highly likely when)Labour supports the government on say trans oppression will that also be "glad they didn't fall for the Conservative trap"?

Cause I'm seeing a serious pattern that suggests that Labour actually acting like the opposition party is a bad policy.

 

[Gawge]

Stay with me here, but maybe it's not "avoiding a trap" and actually what the leadership believe?

 

[MrCibb]

So if (honestly highly likely when)Labour supports the government on say trans oppression will that also be "glad they didn't fall for the Conservative trap"?

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What are you talking about...? Labour can't come out in opposition of criminal damage being against the law. But they can absolutely come out in opposition of any law that oppresses trans people. Keir Starmer supports trans rights and has openly stated as such, so I don't even know where you're coming from.

The new Labour leader wrote an essay for PinkNews back in February, explaining how LBGT+ rights would be at the core of his Labour Party.

In it, he underlined his support for reforms to the Gender Recognition Act (GRA), which he said must be overhauled to better support the trans community.

"Trans rights are human rights," he wrote. "Though the Gender Recognition Act was an important advance, it is clear that more needs to be done.

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Keir Starmer wins Labour Party leadership with overwhelming majority. Here’s where he stands on LGBT+ rights

For Keir Starmer, LGBT+ rights are a crucial part of Labour politics. Here's where the new Labour leader stands on trans equality and more.

www.pinknews.co.uk

 

[excelsiorlef]

What are you talking about...? Labour can't come out in opposition of criminal damage being against the law. But they can absolutely come out in opposition of any law that oppresses trans people. Keir Starmer supports trans rights and has openly stated as such, so I don't even know where you're coming from.

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That's good. I'm concerned because there's a lot of TERFS in the Labour party.

 

[Koukalaka]

So if (honestly highly likely when)Labour supports the government on say trans oppression will that also be "glad they didn't fall for the Conservative trap"?

Cause I'm seeing a serious pattern that suggests that Labour actually acting like the opposition party is a bad policy.

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Labour isn't going to do that, don't be daft. There's TERFs everywhere but they don't control the Shadow Cabinet.

 

[TheGummyBear]

As has been pointed out several times already, the law already states that the sentence for criminal damage is 10 years. This was an attempt to give the right-wing press that win against Starmer that they've been desperately seeking, so they could run headlines about Labour being soft on crime. It didn't work.

 

[Principate]

So if (honestly highly likely when)Labour supports the government on say trans oppression will that also be "glad they didn't fall for the Conservative trap"?

Cause I'm seeing a serious pattern that suggests that Labour actually acting like the opposition party is a bad policy.

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How about you wait for that moment and air your very rightful disagreements with the party rather these obvious PR hitjobs.

The government is tanking in the UK falling approval ratings and personal approval ratings for the PM. It's trying to bring the Labour party with them which is what these are. If the Labour party starts doing some genuinely immoral shit go to town I'd join you calling that shit out but don't waste your time doing the racist conservative governments jobs for them.

 

[Noodle]

Two points on this :

1) You can already be jailed for criminal damage / vandalism. That's already law, Labour can't "oppose" it.

2) Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds told Sky News: "I would support the government in creating a specific offence of protecting war memorials and I would be willing to work with the government on that."

That quote is the extent of the story. If anything it was a ploy as there's not much Labour can do to stop a new bill going through, they can only seek cross-party support to change it for the better (and avoid 4 years of headlines about Starmer being soft on crime).

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.

 

[excelsiorlef]

Alright I'm willing to be wrong. Asked for thread to be locked.

If people think this is not a story

 

[Unclebenny]

It's getting a bit rich that all those angry that the upper management of Labour sabotaged their leftiest leader are now trying to trip up the most recent candidate weeks into his tenure.

 

[GeoGonzo]

10 years for a fucking statue.

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Look, they're cutting down the best years of that statue. Its not just the statue being repaired, it has to go to statue therapy for years, not to mention the discrimination and bullying they could suffer from other not-vandalized statues.

 

[Dan Thunder]

Great, so Labour understand as much about the law as the Conservatives!

 

[RellikSK]

When asked about this on sky, he said he was willing to work with the government but immeditetly moves onto what matters rather than get bogged down in a silly arguement that results in a Daily Mail headline like "Unpatriotic Labour opposes law to protect Wiston Churchill's statue."

 

[CD_93]

This kneejerkism against Labour is getting a bit transparent excelsiorlef

But if the thread is to be closed then whatever.

 

[FliX]

Thread locked per OP's request.