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Bills · Became law

Sentencing

The bill has been signed off by the King and is now law.

In plain words

This law changes how criminals are sentenced, following an independent review. Prisoners can earn earlier release, and sentences of 12 months or less will usually be suspended, with some exceptions.

Summary drafted by AI, checked by Jonathan on 4 Oct 2026. Source: Parliament Library briefing.

Official title: Sentencing Act 2026

  1. 1Introduced1st reading
  2. 2Main debate2nd reading
  3. 3Detailed checksCommittee
  4. 4ChangesReport stage
  5. 5Final vote3rd reading
  6. 6Other houseLords or Commons
  7. 7Becomes lawRoyal Assent

Nothing more. This bill is now law.

Put forward by Shabana Mahmood, Lord Timpson.

Votes so far

DateVoteCountResult
20 Jan 2026Sentencing: changes from the House of Lords319 for, 127 againstAgreed
29 Oct 2025Sentencing: the final vote321 for, 103 againstAgreed
29 Oct 2025Sentencing: a proposed change182 for, 311 againstRejected
29 Oct 2025Sentencing: a proposed change173 for, 323 againstRejected
29 Oct 2025Sentencing: a proposed change82 for, 314 againstRejected
29 Oct 2025Sentencing: a proposed change170 for, 328 againstRejected
21 Oct 2025Sentencing: a proposed change77 for, 390 againstRejected
21 Oct 2025Sentencing: a proposed change104 for, 317 againstRejected
21 Oct 2025Sentencing: a proposed change167 for, 313 againstRejected
21 Oct 2025Sentencing: a proposed change182 for, 307 againstRejected

2 older votes not shown. All votes

Votes in the Lords

DateVoteCountResult
6 Jan 2026Lords vote 541 content, 97 not contentRejected
6 Jan 2026Lords vote 4134 content, 185 not contentRejected
6 Jan 2026Lords vote 3204 content, 136 not contentAgreed
6 Jan 2026Lords vote 2180 content, 219 not contentRejected
6 Jan 2026Lords vote 1182 content, 209 not contentRejected
Full timeline
DateStageHouse
2 Sep 20251st readingCommons
16 Sep 20252nd readingCommons
16 Sep 2025Programme motionCommons
16 Sep 2025Money resolutionCommons
21 Oct 2025Committee of the whole HouseCommons
29 Oct 2025Report stageCommons
29 Oct 20253rd readingCommons
30 Oct 20251st readingLords
12 Nov 20252nd readingLords
26 Nov 2025, 1 Dec 2025, 3 Dec 2025Committee stageLords
6 Jan 2026Report stageLords
12 Jan 20263rd readingLords
20 Jan 2026Programme motionCommons
20 Jan 2026Consideration of Lords amendmentsCommons
21 Jan 2026Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasonsLords
22 Jan 2026Royal AssentUnassigned

In the bill’s own words: A Bill to make provision about the sentencing, release and management after sentencing of offenders; to make provision about bail; to make provision about the removal from the United Kingdom of foreign criminals; and for connected purposes.

Official page on Parliament’s site

Source: Parliament Bills API · Commons votes from the Commons Votes API.