Government must fulfil its election promise to extend the number of crimes where a sentence handed down by judges can be challenged if deemed too lenient after a radical preacher was handed just 66 months in prison, an MP has warned.
Anjem Choudary was jailed for five-and-a-half years for urging support for ISIS and police say his followers carried out attacks in the UK and abroad.
Conservative Shipley MP Philip Davies said his Party pledged to extend the number of crimes where sentences can be appealed and demanded action following the “ridiculously light” sentence.
Mr Davies said: “A number of people including a number of my constituents who have contacted me about this, felt that the sentence given to Anjem Choudary was derisory given the serious level of the offences that he had committed. We found out today in the newspapers that the Attorney General is unable to appeal against an unduly lenient sentence for that particular crime. We promised in our manifesto to extend the number of crimes that could be appealed for being unduly lenient. The Attorney General must come to the House and explain when we are going to crack on with it”
Mr Davies has challenged sentences handed down by the court and has been successful in the past getting prison sentences increased.
Commons Leader David Lidington said: “Work is ongoing and as soon as that has been completed the Attorney General or relevant Justice Minister will come forward with a statement to the House.”