Justice seen
VIOLENT criminals should never have been given the right to skulk in a cell as the judge passes sentence.
For too long vile killers have insulted their victims’ families by denying them a chance to look in their eyes as they face justice.
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So we welcome the Government’s belated action to stop them exploiting this loophole by giving judges power to give longer sentences, or a tougher prison regime, for convicts who refuse to stand in the dock.
It is a victory for the mother of murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who has campaigned to create “Olivia’s Law” to prevent murderers from refusing to attend sentencing.
Sadly, the crackdown comes too late for Olivia’s parents, or many other grieving families who were denied the chance to make killers listen to their harrowing statements.
Many will wonder why ministers didn’t go further still and change the law so cowardly convicts can be dragged kicking and screaming into the dock if necessary.
Border panic
TWO thirds of voters who switched to Reform in last week’s local elections say they did so out of concern about Britain’s porous borders, costing Labour and the Tories 833 council seats.
Cue panic in the Government ranks.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is now working up plans to restrict work and student visas from countries with high rates of asylum claims, including Pakistan, Nigeria and Sri Lanka.
Last year 40,000 claims were lodged by people who arrived lawfully on a visa — more than the 35,000 from small boat migrants.
Together these two groups account for 70 per cent of asylum claims.
Nearly 10,000 asylum claimants who arrived on work or study visas were living in hotels or other taxpayer-funded accommodation at some point last year.
These are shocking statistics and Ms Cooper is right to act.
But how long before activist lawyers — already protesting about potential discrimination — try to thwart or delay her efforts in the courts?
Indian taxaway
IF Number Ten hoped for only positive headlines from the India trade deal, they were out of luck.
Ministers say it will boost our economy by £4.8billion a year, add £2.2billion to wages and give a huge boost to producers of whisky, chocolate, medical devices and cars.
But, as the Tories quickly pointed out, Keir Starmer’s “two-tier” agreement will also give Indian workers based in the UK tax breaks denied to British staff.
Still, it was nice to see so many Remainer Labour MPs forced to cheer on a deal only made possible by Brexit.