CONDUCT OF THE HON MEMBER FOR ISLINGTON SOUTH AND LABOUR PARTY POLICY ON LENIENT SENTENCES

That this House notes with astonishment the claim by the honourable Member for Islington South and Finsbury on BBC television Question Time that the Labour Party did not oppose or vote against the right of appeal against lenient sentences; notes that the Official Report for 18th January 1988 records that the Labour Party and he personally voted against the Second Reading of the Criminal Justice Bill which introduced the change; notes that the Labour Party's spokesman, the honourable Member for Birmingham, Sparkbrook, argued at Second Reading that the proposal was wrong in principle; and calls upon the honourable Member for Islington South and Finsbury immediately to issue a public correction.