Robert Jenrick will pledge to end two-tier justice 'nightmare'

Robert Jenrick will pledge to axe the Sentencing Council to stamp out 'two-tier justice' in Britain.

The Shadow Justice Secretary has the quango in his sights after it recommended this year that courts consider differential treatment based on factors such as race and ethnicity.

Mr Jenrick, who is seen by many at the Tories' annual conference in Manchester as the most likely candidate to be its next leader, is also expected to criticise the role of 'activist judges' – and take a swipe at Labour's attorney general, Lord Hermer.

He will warn that the Sentencing Council – set up by the last Labour government to provide guidance on sentencing – is 'not fit for purpose', adding: 'Never again can the British people face the prospect of two-tier justice.'

This year, it issued guidance recommending that judges take into account factors such as ethnicity or gender when deciding whether to ask for pre-sentence reports.