Atkins and Reeves clash on rape strategy

During justice questions, shadow minister Ellie Reeves questioned the government’s record on tackling rape.

Reeves told the House of Commons that minister Victoria Atkins had accused her of “false, intemperate and damaging language”, but Reeves told MPs that she makes “no apology for standing up for victims”.

Atkins questioned the conduct of Reeves, after a private email which she copied Reeves in on appeared in The Guardian. Atkins pointed to “the conviction rate increase since last year” as an example of how the government is making progress on tackling rape in the UK.