The MP for Southport, where Axel Rudakubana tragically took the lives of three young girls, is calling for a review of his minimum 52-year jail sentence, saying it's "not severe enough."
Labour's Patrick Hurley has reached out to the attorney general to see if the sentence was "unduly lenient," believing it doesn't "reflect the crimes committed."
Rudakubana pleaded guilty to the murders of Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, eight at a dance workshop.
The killings sparked a wave of political outrage, including from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who described the attack, which also injured eight more children, as "one of the most harrowing moments in our country's history." In a statement, Sir Keir said: "What happened in Southport was an atrocity, and as the judge has stated, this vile offender will likely never be released."
However, Hurley argued that Rudakubana's sentence "is not severe enough; it is not long enough for the crimes committed."
The 52-year minimum sentence means Rudakubana won't be eligible for release until he has served that time in prison. Since he was just nine days away from turning 18, the law doesn't allow a whole-life order, which would mean he could never be released.
Hurley mentioned on BBC Breakfast that in "exceptional circumstances," judges should have the power to give "exceptional sentences." He also expressed concern that the surviving victims might be "retraumatized" if Rudakubana applies for parole after 52 years, even if it's denied.
Minister John Healey noted that international law stops the UK from giving unlimited sentences to those under 18. However, he told BBC Breakfast, "I can't imagine this man ever leaving prison. I don't want to see him ever released, and the judge was clear when he sentenced him to 52 years – he doesn't expect him to be released in the future."
Attorney General Lord Hermer and Solicitor General Lucy Rigby have 28 days to decide if they'll refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal.
Critics of the judge's decision would need to persuade the Court of Appeal that the sentence—considered the second-longest minimum term ever—is not only shorter than they hoped but "unreasonably" so.
Former Attorney General Sir Dominic Grieve shared his thoughts, saying he believed the request was "unlikely to succeed" since "it's very possible Rudakubana will never be released."
He explained to the BBC that there must be "a cut-off point" for when a whole life order can be given, and there's evidence that younger offenders might change in ways adults typically don't.