Positive changes to Justice laws achieved by Lib Dem MPs

23 May 2025

This week we have secured a really important change in the law to protect survivors of domestic abuse.

When the Government announced its early release scheme last year, to deal with the appalling overcrowding in our prisons, it made a commitment to exclude domestic abusers from the scheme.

But it couldn’t deliver on that commitment, because many domestic abusers are convicted of general offences like ABH, assault or battery – so the Ministry of Justice can’t identify who the domestic abusers in our prison system are.

Despite the Government’s promise, a brave survivor was told that the man who held a knife to her throat would be released early under the scheme. And she wasn’t alone.

So for months, led by Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde, we have been campaigning for a change in the law so domestic abusers are identified as such at sentencing.

On Thursday – finally – the Government has agreed and announced that it will do it.

Having heard from many domestic abuse survivors about this, we know this change will make a big difference and give them greater confidence that the justice system will provide the protection they deserve. We are so glad we managed to get Ministers to listen.

That’s not the only Lib Dem win we secured on justice today.

The Gauke Review on sentencing also recommended a presumption against short prison sentences – something we have long been calling for to reduce overcrowding, improve rehabilitation and cut reoffending – and the Government has accepted that recommendation.

And Sarah Olney has been tirelessly campaigning for victims of rape and sexual abuse to be able to read court transcripts for free – after a constituent of hers was charged more than £7,000 to do so.

Again we are delighted that the Government has listened to Sarah’s campaign and will make more transcripts free. Well done Sarah!

It just goes to show what a difference our 72 Liberal Democrat MPs can make – changing the law from the opposition benches. Unlike the sound and fury from the Conservatives and Reform, we get stuff done.

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