Chemical castration has been considered for sex offenders as a way of reducing reoffending under new proposals to end prison overcrowding.
An independent sentencing review led by former justice secretary David Gauke recommended the reforms to overhaul the prisons system, which is currently dealing with a capacity crisis.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Gauke said drugs to reduce sexual desires should be explored, saying: “This is about reducing the risk of reoffending in future. There are some sex offenders who want to reduce their desires. And if we can explore this, I think that is something that’s worthwhile.”
The review published on Thursday recommended introducing an “earned progression model” inspired by reforms in Texas.
Under the scheme, prisoners could be released earlier for good behaviour and be supervised on licence, while short sentences of less than 12 months could be scrapped.
Mr Gauke, who served as justice secretary under Theresa May, also admitted many of the problems it is combatting arose under Conservative prime ministers.
“This has been building up for some time, the capacity issue, particularly over the last five years,” he said.
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Key Points
- Chemical castration considered for sex offenders to reduce re-offending
- Fewer criminals to serve jail time under proposals to end prison overcrowding
- Starmer U-turns on winter fuel payment cuts
- Badenoch brands Starmer's winter fuel shift a ‘joke’ and urges action before autumn
- Explained | Labour to reverse winter fuel payment cuts - who will be eligible and what happens next?
- Starmer told to apologise for ‘world’s longest U-turn’ on winter fuel cuts
Judge blocks UK from completing Chagos Islands deal at eleventh hour
08:23
,
Jabed Ahmed
A dramatic intervention last night by a senior judge threatens to throw Keir Starmer’s controversial plans to sign away the Chagos Islands to Mauritius today in chaos.
The plan is to sign the deal today which will give Mauritius sovereignty over the islands. It would follow months of wrangling amid concerns over the future of the UK/ US military base on Diego Garcia.
But a late legal challenge from a Chagossian saw High Court judge Sir Julian Goose put a pause on the treaty being signed at 3am this morning following hours of legal wrangling.
Our Political Editor David Maddox reports:
Foreign offenders should be sent back to their countries, review recommends
08:15
,
Holly Evans
David Gauke said there are recommendations in his sentencing review to send foreign offenders back to their countries.
He told Sky News: “If a foreign national offender is sentenced to less than three years, then we argue that they should be deported, as soon as possible.
“If they’ve got a sentence that is more than three years, so a particularly serious offence, we can deport them but there is absolutely no guarantee unless there’s a prison transfer agreement in place with another country that that offender will go into prison. They could well be then free, walking the streets.”
He added: “If we just deport them, whatever the length of their sentence, they could be walking free. And I don’t think that would be fair on victims. I don’t think that would be right for society as a whole.
“So you have to balance the guarantee of punishment for serious offenders with the case for getting them out of our jails as quickly as possible.”
It is possible to move quickly to deport people convicted of crimes, he said, but added that you “can’t have a blanket approach where every foreign national offender is deported”.
Chemical castration considered for sex offenders to reduce re-offending
07:59
,
Holly Evans
The sentencing review recommends exploring chemical castration for sex offenders as a way of reducing reoffending, independent reviewer David Gauke has said.
“One of our recommendations is that we think that we should continue to explore this, this is drugs that reduces sexual desire,” Mr Gauke told Sky News.
“It’s not appropriate for every sexual offender, and the evidence base for this does need to be built up.”
A small pilot under way in the south west of England could be expanded, he said.
“I’m not going to claim it’s the answer for everything. This is about reducing the risk of reoffending in future. There are some sex offenders who want to reduce their desires. And if we can explore this, I think that is something that’s worthwhile,” he said.
Asked if this would be used instead of keeping sex offenders in prison, he said: “The point being is at some point almost every prisoner will be released. We have to look across the system at doing everything we can do to minimise the risk of reoffending. You cannot remove that risk altogether.”
Drugs for offenders can ‘reduce sexual desire’
07:50
,
Holly Evans
David Gauke has said drugs for sex offenders being released from prison can reduce their sexual desire.
The ex-justice secretary, following the publication of his sentencing review, said: “There are some sex offenders who want to reduce their desires, and if we can explore this, I think that is something that's worthwhile.”
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “Remember, almost everybody in prison is at some point going to be released. What we have to look at is to have a system in place that reduces the risks of reoffending as much as possible. If we think there is some kind of pharmaceutical intervention that can make a contribution to that to further lower any risks, then we should at least explore it.”
Tory ex-justice secretary admits prisons crisis is Conservatives’ fault
07:44
,
Archie Mitchell
The Tory ex-justice secretary who has carried out a sentencing review for the government has admitted many of the problems it is combatting arose under Conservative prime ministers.
David Gauke, whose recommendations were published on Thursday, said “the reality is the problems we face now were in place 10 months ago, two years ago”.
“This has been building up for some time, the capacity issue, particularly over the last five years,” he told Sky News.
He added: “I would say whoever was in power last July would have had to take the action [on early release] that the government did.”
But Mr Gauke insisted his recommendations will help the government avoid a similar crisis arising again. Mr Gauke was justice secretary between 2018 and 2019 under Theresa May.
Violent criminals to be released early under reforms inspired by Texas prisons
07:43
,
Holly Evans
Published on Thursday, the review which hopes to end prison overcrowding recommended introducing an “earned progression model” inspired by reforms in Texas.
Under the scheme, prisoners could be released earlier for good behaviour and be supervised on licence for a period of their sentence.
They would then remain unsupervised in the community for the final period of their sentence, but could be recalled to prison if they commit another crime.
Violent or sexual offenders who are serving sentences of four years or more could be released into the community on licence after spending half of their sentence behind bars, or longer if they do not comply with prison rules.
The review also suggested for the most dangerous offenders on extended sentences to be eligible for parole at half-way through their sentence, instead of two-thirds, if they earn credits to take part in rehabilitation activities in prison.
They would only be released if the Parole Board decided it was safe to do so.
The review chairman said: “The scale of the crisis we are in cannot be understated.
“Overcrowded prisons are leading to dangerous conditions for staff and contributing to high levels of reoffending.
“These recommendations, which span the entirety of the justice system, are focused not only on bringing the prison population under control but ultimately reducing reoffending and ensuring victims are protected.”
Fewer criminals to serve jail time under proposals to end prison overcrowding
07:41
,
Holly Evans
Fewer criminals will be put behind bars and more will serve sentences in the community under plans to end overcrowding in jails.
Violent criminals and sexual offenders could be released from prison earlier, while judges could be given more flexibility to impose punishments such as football or driving bans.
Short sentences of less than 12 months would also be scrapped, apart from exceptional circumstances such as domestic abuse cases.
An independent sentencing review led by former justice secretary David Gauke recommended the reforms to overhaul the prisons system and make sure there is space to jail the most dangerous offenders after a string of emergency measures to deal with the capacity crisis.
Five key proposals put forward by Mr Gauke are expected to cut the prison population by around 9,800.
Latest figures show the prison population in England and Wales is 88,103, just 418 below the record of 88,521, which was reached on September 6 last year, just before the Government began freeing thousands of prisoners early to ease overcrowding.
UK borrowing rises to £20.2bn in April
07:22
,
Holly Evans
UK Government borrowing rose to £20.2 billion last month, ahead of forecasts and the fourth-highest April figure on record, new official figures show.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said borrowing was also £1 billion higher than in April last year.
The latest figure showed that the Chancellor had to borrow more money than expected over the month, surpassing analyst predictions of £17.6 billion.
It came amid a jump in central government departmental spending on goods and services, which rose by £4.2 billion year-on-year due to pay increases and cost inflation.
Social care leaders warn of tough times without ‘significant new funding’
07:16
,
Holly Evans
The coming months for people needing social care are likely to be “the most difficult we’ve seen in recent years” unless significant new funding is announced soon, almost 100 leaders in the sector have warned.
Next month’s spending review is a “crucial opportunity” for the Government to show its commitment to the future of adult social care, the leaders said in a statement to the Chancellor.
Rachel Reeves will deliver her review, setting out plans for spending and key public sector reforms, on June 11.
The call comes just weeks after the formal launch of the Casey Commission, which the Government ordered with an aim of transforming social care.
The first phase of the review, led by Baroness Casey, is expected to report next year, although recommendations from the initial probe will be implemented in phases over the course of 10 years.
Social care leaders have already raised concerns over the potential timeline of 2036 for some reforms to be introduced.
The second phase of the commission, setting out longer-term reforms, is due to report by 2028.
Will Starmer’s U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts be enough to win back voters?
07:02
,
Athena Stavrou
By Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor
One of Rachel Reeves’s first decisions when she became chancellor last summer was to strip 10 million pensioners of their winter fuel payments.
The move was designed to show that Labour could take tough choices and was serious about sorting out the economy.
But, in the weeks and months since, it has proven toxic for both her party and her government. Yet Keir Starmer has now said he wants to make sure “more pensioners are eligible”.
Read the full article here:
Age UK cautiously welcomes Starmer's pledge to re-think winter fuel - ICYMI
06:29
,
Athena Stavrou
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, welcomed the prime minister’s pledge to review winter fuel payments but warned that “the devil is always in the detail”.
She criticised last year’s means-testing, which left many low-income pensioners without support and led to “significant numbers of older people too frightened to turn on their heating”, putting their health at risk.
“If nothing changes, next winter threatens to be just as bad,” she said, urging the government to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Ms Abrahams called for ministers to “put similar amounts of money back into the pockets” of pensioners who lost out and to restore confidence among older people in their ability to afford heating.
She highlighted concerns for those entitled to Pension Credit but not claiming it, people on just above-threshold incomes, and those with serious health conditions who face high heating costs—an estimated 2.5 million people in total.
Ms Abrahams said success should be judged by how well new policies help “vulnerable older people and those on low and modest incomes to heat their homes adequately next winter”.
Watch: Starmer hints government will U-turn on winter fuel payment cut
06:01
,
Athena Stavrou
Explained | Labour to reverse winter fuel payment cuts - who will be eligible and what happens next?
05:19
After spending months ruling out a U-turn, it looks likely that the decision has come as a result of intense political pressure amid poor approval ratings and the threat of rebellion from Labour backbenchers.
Our Political Correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Comment | Why Starmer had no choice but to U-turn on winter fuel payments
04:39
,
Athena Stavrou
Recap | Starmer indicates partial U-turn over winter fuel payments squeeze
04:03
,
Athena Stavrou
Here is a recap on Sir Keir Starmer’s winter fuel payment U-turn:
- The PM signalled a partial U-turn over the government’s decision to strip winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners at PMQs today.
- He said that “as the economy improves” he wanted to look at widening eligibility for the payments worth up to £300.
- However, officials were unable to say how many more pensioners would be eligible or if the policy would be altered in time for this winter.
- The government insisted the policy was necessary to help stabilise the public finances, allowing the improvements in the economic picture which Sir Keir said could result in the partial reversal of the measure.
- Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch challenged Sir Keir in the Commons, calling him “desperate” and asking how the public could trust him again.
- The Prime Minister’s official spokesman was unable to give details about how Sir Keir would deliver on his promise or how many pensioners would benefit.
- Officials fear that simply increasing the pension credit threshold would increase the take-up of that benefit, wiping out any potential savings.
Recap | Pressure mounts on Chancellor as inflation races to highest for more than a year
03:34
,
Athena Stavrou
Inflation has rocketed to its highest level in more than a year after “awful April” bill rises, but pressure is also mounting on the Chancellor over the impact of Labour’s recent tax hike on the cost of living.
Official figures show Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation jumped to 3.5% in April, up from 2.6% in March and the highest since January 2024.
It comes after Ofgem’s energy price cap rose by 6.4% in April, having fallen a year earlier, alongside a raft of bill rises for under-pressure households – including the biggest increase to water bills since at least February 1988.
Households were also hit with steep increases across bills for council tax, mobile and broadband tariffs, as well as road tax.
But experts said inflation may also have been pushed higher as many firms responded to the Government’s move to raise national insurance contributions (NICs) and the minimum wage last month by increasing prices.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledged her policies have “consequences” but insisted they are necessary to stabilise the economy.
Watch | Lindsay Hoyle snaps at disruptive MPs: 'Are you going to behave?'
03:01
,
Athena Stavrou
Full report | Starmer poised to sanction top Israel ministers over Gaza crisis as pressure mounts for tougher UK action
02:37
,
Athena Stavrou
Our Political Editor David Maddox reports:
Full report | Disability claimants with back problems to lose most in Labour’s welfare changes
02:02
,
Athena Stavrou
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Changes to winter fuel not expected to be unveiled until Autumn - and may not be in effect for the winter
01:16
,
Athena Stavrou
Fresh changes to the government’s winter fuel cut are not expected to be put in place until Autumn at the earliest, Downing Street indicated on Wednesday.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said they will unveil the detail of the changes at the “next fiscal event”. Given he also ruled out an emergency budget, this means it will take place at the Budget in October.
However, questions remain over whether or not this will mean the changes will be in place for the coming winter.
Pressed on whether more pensioners can expect to receive the payments this winter, the PM’s official spokesperson would not be drawn on exact timings.
Watch: Starmer makes fun of Farage: 'First through the e-gates in France'
Thursday 22 May 2025 00:29
,
Athena Stavrou
Net migration predicted to fall, think tank says - ICYMI
Wednesday 21 May 2025 23:36
,
Holly Bancroft, Social Affairs Correspondent
Net migration is expected to fall by over 250,000, according to think tank British Future. New statistics on the flow of people into the UK are expected from the ONS tomorrow and researchers predict a downward trend. In the year ending June 2024, net migration to the UK was 728,000.
Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, said: "Falling net migration is one of Britain's best-kept secrets. The ONS figures will show a dramatic fall, probably by over a quarter of a million, but that will come as a complete surprise to 90% of the public. Immigration remains high but is much lower than the previous peaks. It will likely fall further."
Minister condemns Israeli military after British diplomats caught in shooting
Wednesday 21 May 2025 23:01
,
Athena Stavrou
Israel must hold an investigation after British diplomats were caught up in shooting by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, a Foreign Office minister has said.
A group of western diplomats faced warning shots from the Israel Defence Forces while visiting the city of Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Wednesday.
Two British diplomats understood to be among the group of around 20 people have been confirmed as safe.
Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer described the events in Jenin as “unacceptable”.
He added: “I have spoken to our diplomats who were affected. Civilians must always be protected, and diplomats allowed to do their jobs. There must be a full investigation and those responsible should be held accountable.”
Watch: Starmer hints government will U-turn on winter fuel payment cut
Wednesday 21 May 2025 22:29
,
Athena Stavrou
What did Sir Keir tell the Commons?
Wednesday 21 May 2025 22:02
,
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir told the Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions: “I recognise that people are still feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis, including pensioners.
“As the economy improves, we want to make sure people feel those improvements in their days as their lives go forward. That is why we want to ensure that, as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments.”
Stormont minister calls for full restoration of winter fuel payment
Wednesday 21 May 2025 21:34
,
Athena Stavrou
Northern Ireland’s Communities Minister has called for the full reinstatement of the winter fuel payment.
Around 250,000 pensioners in Northern Ireland were affected by the decision to means-test the previously universal payment.
The cut was cushioned in the region with a £100 fuel support payment provided to pensioners by Gordon Lyons’ department.
He said he welcomed Sir Keir’s statement but added that it did not go far enough.
“My opposition to restricting eligibility for the winter fuel payment has been absolute and I am glad that the Labour Government has now recognised that error,” he said.
“This mistake can only be fully rectified by the reinstatement of a universal winter fuel payment that protects all pensioners.”
U-turn cannot change fact Labour removed winter fuel payments – Swinney
Wednesday 21 May 2025 21:02
,
Athena Stavrou
No U-turn can change the fact the UK Government removed the winter fuel payment from pensioners, John Swinney has said.
Speaking to the PA news agency during a visit to Glasgow Airport, First Minister Mr Swinney said regardless of the extension of the payment, it was still removed from most pensioners last winter, while his Government committed to offering a scaled back version of the payment in the upcoming winter.
“I think people were dumbfounded that the first actions of the new Labour Government was to take away winter fuel payments from pensioners,” he said.
“Now the SNP Government has intervened and we’ve restored those payments to pensioners in Scotland and that was the right thing for us to do.
“But it was the wrong thing for the Labour Government to do to take away those payments.”
The First Minister, however, refused to commit to passing on all increases in funding from the UK to the Scottish equivalent.
How much could a full reversal of the winter fuel payment changes cost?
Wednesday 21 May 2025 20:26
,
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer wants to widen eligibility for winter fuel payment after he restricted the number of pensioners who could claim it last year.
There are several options for how the Government could go about it.
One option would be a full reversal of the decision to strip the benefit from millions of pensioners.
The decision to make it available only to those who claim pension credit last year meant those claiming winter fuel payment fell by almost 90% and saved around £1.5 billion a year, the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates.
Undoing last year’s policy change would make some 11 million more households eligible and of course wipe out the £1.5 billion in savings.
Labour MPs call for universal winter fuel payment to be restored
Wednesday 21 May 2025 19:53
,
Athena Stavrou
Restoring the universal winter fuel payment would be the simplest way to help more pensioners, a Labour backbencher has said.
Andy McDonald, the MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, told the BBC’s PM programme he favoured returning to a universal payment, adding: “It is clean, it is simple, and it is not going to involve people in making applications, and in tax returns, and all manner of complications that are going to cause more difficulties.
“Let’s make this clean and quick.”
Asked if he also favoured scrapping the two-child benefit cap, Mr McDonald told the BBC: “I think it is one of several decisions that need to be revisited. We know that by lifting that two-child cap there will be an immediate beneficial impact of taking children out of poverty.
“That is our purpose. That is why we exist is to help people get out of poverty.”
Comment | Why Starmer had no choice but to U-turn on winter fuel payments
Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:29
,
Jabed Ahmed
Watch | Lindsay Hoyle snaps at disruptive MPs in heated winter fuel payments debate: ‘Are you going to behave?’
Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:00
,
Jabed Ahmed
Welfare charity warns of shame and stigma around winter fuel payments
Wednesday 21 May 2025 17:29
,
Jabed Ahmed
The apparent U-turn on winter fuel payments was welcomed by a charity but the organisation warned of a shame and stigma among those in need.
Lucy Bannister, head of policy and influencing at Turn2us, said: “We welcome the prime minister’s indication that the Government plans to widen eligibility for winter fuel payment, helping more low-income pensioners to stay warm and safe this winter. We hear from people every year about the difference this support makes.
“But we remain concerned that hundreds of thousands of eligible pensioners still miss out each year due to a complex application process, lack of awareness, and stigma.
“Many feel shame for needing support, a direct result of how benefits are too often talked about by politicians and the media. The Government must urgently ensure its narrative around its wider social security reforms reduces this stigma, simplify the system, and proactively reach those being left behind.”
What was the controversy around the cuts to winter fuel payments?
Wednesday 21 May 2025 17:00
,
Millie Cooke
The cuts were deeply unpopular because they were seen as being disproportionately damaging to vulnerable people, and were criticised for leaving thousands of poorer pensions who were on the borderline missing out on the payment.
In November, it was revealed that the government’s own figures indicated the cuts would force 100,000 pensioners into poverty in 2026.
The policy was partly blamed for Labour’s poor performance at the local elections – which saw them lose two-thirds of the council seats they had in 2021– as well as the previously Labour-held Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary seat to Reform UK.
There is also a growing sentiment among Labour MPs that the winter fuel cuts, combined with the £5bn welfare cuts and the party’s decision to keep the two child benefit cap in place, has created an image of Labour as being the new ‘nasty party’.
Recap | Starmer indicates partial U-turn over winter fuel payments squeeze
Wednesday 21 May 2025 15:41
,
Jabed Ahmed
If you’re just joining us, here is a recap on Sir Keir Starmer’s winter fuel payment U-turn:
- The PM signalled a partial U-turn over the government’s decision to strip winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners at PMQs today.
- He said that “as the economy improves” he wanted to look at widening eligibility for the payments worth up to £300.
- However, officials were unable to say how many more pensioners would be eligible or if the policy would be altered in time for this winter.
- The government insisted the policy was necessary to help stabilise the public finances, allowing the improvements in the economic picture which Sir Keir said could result in the partial reversal of the measure.
- Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch challenged Sir Keir in the Commons, calling him “desperate” and asking how the public could trust him again.
- The Prime Minister’s official spokesman was unable to give details about how Sir Keir would deliver on his promise or how many pensioners would benefit.
- Officials fear that simply increasing the pension credit threshold would increase the take-up of that benefit, wiping out any potential savings.
Badenoch brands Starmer's winter fuel shift a ‘joke’ and urges action before autumn
Wednesday 21 May 2025 15:19
,
Jabed Ahmed
Kemi Badenoch has said it is a “joke” to say that Sir Keir Starmer’s partial u-turn on winter fuel payments is a reaction to the economy improving.
“That’s a joke. We just had inflation figures this morning. It shows that inflation has doubled since they took office from the Conservatives. He is not running the economy well,” the Conservative Party leader said.
She said she would like to see a change that means pensioners getting £11,000 to £15,000 a year getting winter fuel payments.
She said it will be “too late” if Sir Keir waits until the autumn budget to set out the details.
“If he’s waiting until the budget it means that people are going to lose their winter fuel payment for another year,” she said.
The Conservatives would not support tax rises to fund extending winter fuel payments, she said.
Explained | Labour to reverse winter fuel payment cuts - who will be eligible and what happens next?
Wednesday 21 May 2025 14:55
,
Jabed Ahmed
After spending months ruling out a U-turn, it looks likely that the decision has come as a result of intense political pressure amid poor approval ratings and the threat of rebellion from Labour backbenchers.
Our Political Correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Jenrick criticises Starmer's winter fuel U-turn
Wednesday 21 May 2025 14:48
,
Jabed Ahmed
Robert Jenrick has criticised Sir Keir Starmer over his apparent U-turn on winter fuel payments.
Writing on X, the shadow cabinet minister said: “His [Sir Keir’s] £22bn ‘black hole’ has been exposed a
