A leading barrister has warned of a growing “disconnect” between elites and the public over criminal sentencing in the UK, following the jailing of former Labour MP Mike Amesbury.
Steven Barrett, speaking on GB News, criticised what he termed “Versailles thinking” among those in authority.
“The elite in this country think if they just call ordinary people ‘far-right’ just one more time and they keep ignoring their genuine concerns, everything will be fine,” Barrett said.
He compared this attitude to playing music louder to drown out protesters outside the palace.
Steven Barrett said the sentencing shows the disconnect between elites and ordinary Britons
GB NEWS
The comments came after Amesbury, 55, was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison for a violent assault in Frodsham, Cheshire.
CCTV footage showed the MP punching Paul Fellows, 45, to the ground following an argument about a bridge closure at a taxi rank.
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Steven Barrett joined Martin Daubney on GB News
GB NEWS
Amesbury then followed Fellows onto the road and punched him at least five more times.
The MP was heard saying “You won’t threaten your MP again will you?” after the attack.
The incident occurred in the early hours of October 26 last year, leading to Amesbury’s suspension from the Labour Party.
Barrett expressed particular concern about sentencing guidelines for serious offences, including those involving indecent images.
“I cannot bear that we constantly have these people with hundreds, if not thousands of utterly disgusting images and they don’t go to prison,” he said.
The barrister emphasised that current sentencing practices may not reflect public expectations.
“That does not mean the judge made a mistake or it’s unduly lenient. It might just mean those in charge of sentencing aren’t really listening to the concerns of the public,” Barrett added.
Barrett described the assault footage as “utterly horrific,” noting that “one punch can kill.”
“I have never punched anyone in my life,” he stated, expressing his view that the 10-week sentence was insufficient.
“It’s time our elites actually started listening to the ordinary people,” Barrett said.
He warned that dismissing public concerns wouldn’t resolve the underlying issues, stating “the mob won’t go away!”
