Today's announcement comes after a House of Lords ruling that the current system, whereby the home secretary sets a "tariff" or minimum period a murderer must serve, is incompatible with the European convention on human rights. [for some, if not for good reason, one would suppose!]

"That has meant we have to decide how to proceed and I have decided I will ask parliament to lay down this framework of principles," Mr Blunkett added. "So it will be parliament that decides the structure. It will be judges that act within it."

The new system Mr Blunkett is due to announce sets out "principles" rather than guidelines for sentencing by the judges, which they will be expected to follow. Those who decide that the minimum sentence recommended would be inappropriate in the particular case will have to set out their reasons in writing.

fucking fascist might be worth invoking the 1996 "tough on crime, tough on causes of crime" slogan.. whatever happened to part II of the equation..