Labour MP says governments have ‘given too much power away’ to quangos

A Labour MP has said governments have given “too much power away” to unelected bodies in recent years.

Jonathan Hinder, the Labour MP for Pendle and Clitheroe, said he was “shocked” by the tone of the letter released by the Sentencing Council on Monday evening, which hit back against the justice secretary’s criticism of the body’s new guidelines.

Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, last week wrote to the council urging it to rethink guidance directing judges to review the lives of offenders from ethnic minority and other backgrounds before deciding on a punishment.

Hinder said: “I was shocked to read the Sentencing Council’s response to the secretary of state last night and its arrogant tone.

“As the secretary of state has said, this parliament is sovereign, and the fact is, we’ve given too much power away to these unelected bodies in recent years.

“Can I reassure her of my support and can she reassure me, that she will not rest until we do retain equality before the law?”

Answering for the government at justice questions in the House of Commons, Mahmood replied: “I am very much looking forward to my meeting with the Sentencing Council later this week.

“And as I’ve made clear, I am looking into the roles and powers of the council and I will not hesitate to legislate if I need to do so.”

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