Home Affairs — 19 May 1997

But humbly regret the lack of a firm commitment to implement the provisions of the Crime (Sentences) Bill 1997 to give second time serious violent and sexual offenders automatic life sentences from October 1997; seek the reinstatement of the original provisions of that Bill to give third time burglars and dealers in hard drugs mandatory minimum sentences of three and seven years respectively--save in exceptional circumstances; congratulate the previous Government on its achievements in tackling crime and protecting the public; and believe that the implications of the Government's proposal to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into British law should be carefully examined.

The warning that Derek Lewis has said that he received after he had been asked to reconsider his decision--that

"this is all getting white hot and I do not want it to become nuclear"--

However, the day before, he had received an account of that meeting, which clearly showed that Mr. Lewis was asked when he left the meeting to "talk further" and "to think it through". I cannot believe that my right hon. and learned Friend's formidable memory should cause him to feel that 24 hours is a great distance in time.

He then offered a defence in The Spectator , saying, significantly, that civil servants would have checked his account, and that they would have told him if it had been wrong.

That was why I decided that it was not necessary to write to the Select Committee.

Question put , That the amendment be made:--

The House divided: Ayes 151, Noes 422.

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