The rule of a 12 month sentence before a recall petition can be triggered is regardless of crime, it’s not a specific “get away with rape” clause. In fact if he is found guilty it’s very unlikely he’d get such a short sentence, the 12 months is more to stop an MP losing their job over not paying their council tax, or too many speeding tickets.
The big problem is our rape conviction rates are a shameful embarrassment so by the stats of it, if he did commit the crime he’s incredibly unlikely to be sentenced. And even if he was, it’s unlikely to be before there’s a general election.
the 12 months is more to stop an MP losing their job over not paying their council tax, or too many speeding tickets
To me that’s pretty bonkers. Twelve months is 20% of a full parliamentary term! It should be set at any non suspended custodial sentence. How can an MP represent their constituency from a prison cell? Are they going to hold surgeries in the visiting room?
The rule of a 12 month sentence before a recall petition can be triggered is regardless of crime, it’s not a specific “get away with rape” clause. In fact if he is found guilty it’s very unlikely he’d get such a short sentence, the 12 months is more to stop an MP losing their job over not paying their council tax, or too many speeding tickets.
The big problem is our rape conviction rates are a shameful embarrassment so by the stats of it, if he did commit the crime he’s incredibly unlikely to be sentenced. And even if he was, it’s unlikely to be before there’s a general election.
To me that’s pretty bonkers. Twelve months is 20% of a full parliamentary term! It should be set at any non suspended custodial sentence. How can an MP represent their constituency from a prison cell? Are they going to hold surgeries in the visiting room?