Tory MPs slammed for voting against plan to keep abusers and murderers locked up

A vote in the Commons today closed a loophole in the Government’s early release scheme - adding six offences to the list of those excluded from the programme - including Murder

Tory MPs have been slammed for voting against a plan to keep domestic abusers and murderers locked up.

A vote in the Commons today closed a loophole in the Government’s early release scheme - adding six offences to the list of those excluded from the programme - including Murder.

It will ensure murderers, people who have breached stalking protection orders and sexual harm prevention orders, have disclosed or threatened to disclose private sexual images and people under restraining orders are not eligible for early release.

But Tory MPs voted against the measure in the commons.

“The SDS40 early release scheme is only happening in the first place after the last Conservative government shamefully drove our prisons to breaking point,” Lib Dem justice spokesman Josh Barbarinde said.

"It adds insult to injury that the Conservatives have now voted against exempting more dangerous criminals from this early release scheme - including some stalkers and even murderers.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp claimed the party would oppose the measures because of a lack of safeguards or planning, and claimed they were short-term in nature.

He also cast doubts on the government’s ability to manage electronic tagging and recruit enough probation officers.

But Mr Barbarinde added: “ Liberal Democrats will always stand up for victims and survivors of crime, even if the Conservatives won’t"