U.K., Oct. 14 -- UK Parliament issued the following news:

On Monday 19 October, MPs will debate a petition relating to sentence reductions for guilty pleas in controlling or coercive cases.

Watch the debate (from 4:30pm, Monday 19 October)

Read the debate transcript (available shortly after the conclusion of the debate).

Irene Campbell MP, a member of the Petitions Committee, has been asked by the Committee to open the debate. MPs from all parties can take part, and the Government will send a minister to respond.

"Remove sentence reductions for guilty pleas in controlling and coercive cases"

The petition , which has received more than 105,000 signatures, states: "I want the Government to introduce legislation so that defendants charged with controlling or coercive behaviour cannot receive a sentencing reduction for a guilty plea entered after initially pleading not guilty. This should be known as Paris’s Law."

In its response to the petition, provided on 11 May 2026, the Government said: "Guilty pleas given later in the process can still benefit victims and the administration of justice but are reflected by a substantially lower reduction in sentence."

Read the full response

What are petitions debates?

Petitions debates are 'general' debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.

Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means MPs will not vote on the request of the petitions at the end of the debate. Instead, the aim is to give MPs an opportunity to discuss the issues raised by a petition, and get a response from the Government.

Petition debates are scheduled by the Petitions Committee. Only e-petitions started on the Parliament petitions site are considered by the Petitions Committee.

Further information

Find out more about petition debates

Find out more about the role of the Petitions Committee

Find out more about select committees

Image: Parliamentary copyright

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.