LABOUR SPLIT ON JUSTICE PLAN.

LABOUR SPLIT ON JUSTICE PLAN.

LABOUR MSPS FIND BAKER APPROACH “DEPRESSING” AND “UNCOMFORTABLE”

SNP MSP Angela Constance has highlighted Labour’s splits on the Scottish Government’s proposals to reform custodial sentences and to cut re-offending rates.

Today’s Edinburgh Evening News highlights discontent in the Labour party with their reaction to the plans stating;

“But one Labour MSP admits to finding the approach "depressing" and adds: "Anyone who knows anything about it feels uncomfortable with what we're saying."”

Justice Committee member Angela Constance stated;

"Tough community sentences are needed to punish short term offenders who have enjoyed free bed and board at the tax payers expense for too long.

"This dissent in Labour ranks is a further embarrassment for Labour's Justice spokesperson Richard Baker. With former Labour First Minister Henry McLeish and Labour Councillor Harry McGuigan backing these moves his ill informed scaremongering on the issue of punishment for short term offenders is totally shot to pieces.

“Richard Baker’s credibility is in tatters. He is clearly out of his depth and lacking the support of his party.

“Those in Labour who want to see a sensible approach taken to tackling reoffending, to introducing tough community sentences and to punishing short term offenders should speak up and end their party’s ridiculous scaremongering.

"With figures showing Scotland topping the western European table for sending people to prison it is about time we saw real reform of the prison system to ensure those who need to be in jail are locked up and those who can and should repay their debt to the community do just that."