32 h. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Castration! The Secretary of State was desperate to depict herself as a toughie, so she aimed below the belt

QUENTIN LETTS: Shabana Mahmood was eager to discuss castration. The Justice Secretary had just announced an unprecedented dilution of criminal sentences.

Politics

41 h. ago Watch: Justice secretary update on prisons review as chemical castration considered for sex offenders

The justice secretary has said that many sentencing reforms aimed at easing prison overcrowding have been accepted by the government, including chemical castration for sex offenders.

Events

43 h. ago Watch live: Justice secretary update on prisons review as chemical castration considered for sex offenders

Watch live as the justice secretary delivers an update on UK prisons reform, in what is the biggest shakeup of sentencing in more than 30 years, in Parliament on Thursday (22 May).

Society

44 h. ago Chemical castration of sex offenders to be piloted in 20 prisons, says Mahmood

The Government is exploring whether to enforce the chemical castration on offenders as mandatory, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs.

Events

46 h. ago Exactly how chemical castration works and who would be forced to do it

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is exploring plans to make chemical castration mandatory for paedophiles and rapists under plans to curb sex offenders' vile urges

Politics

46 h. ago Do you think sex offenders should be castrated? Take our poll and have your say

The government is exploring chemical castration as a way to curb sexual offending, with Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood pushing for it to become mandatory for some offenders. Do you think such drastic action is the answer?

Politics

54 h. ago QUENTIN LETTS: What a day for the Chancellor to be away... she's in a scrap with Rayner, then PM does the dirty!

Where was the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves ? Her customary position next to Sir Keir was occupied by Yvette Cooper, radiating all her customary gaiety.

Politics

3 d. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Sir Keir was priggishly cocky. He's stuck us back on the gluey flypaper of the EU...

In this Commons there was no time for such impertinence, says QUENTIN LETTS. Only one attitude was permitted: fealty to the Prime Minister.

Politics

4 d. ago Ursula found it hard to disguise her disbelief and glee at Deer Keer's cave

Standing between two Brussels grand-fromages, Sir Keir Starmer could have been an escapee returned to the gaolers.

Politics

8 d. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Volcanic Sir Lindsay's eruptions left hapless minister buried in ash

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the Commons, erupted three times. Volcanologists will note that the same can be said of Iceland's Mt Thrihnukagigur, but that has been dormant for 4,000 years.

Politics

9 d. ago QUENTIN LETTS: For once Starmer united the House, but there was a peevishness in our stodgy helmsman's breast

Nasal knight nips! Maybe it was tiredness, or crossness at recent setbacks, or simply that he cannot abide the sound of the woman. 

Politics

1 week ago QUENTIN LETTS: Multiculturalism has done far more to fan racial tensions than Enoch Powell ever did

Who was Enoch Powell? With his evocative name again electrifying headlines, this basic question needs examining.

Events

1 week ago QUENTIN LETTS: 'All rise, if able'... yet another confected attack on our language by the grievance seekers who gave us 'chest feeders' and 'birth people'

QUENTIN LETTS: For centuries, those two words 'All rise!' were sufficient for the commencement of judicial proceedings and a show of respect for the so-called majesty of the law. Until now.

Events

2 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Starmer had the tone of a gopher grateful to a mafia don for not having him rubbed out in the parking lot

This is going to sound like a Barbara Cartland novel but it actually happened. Donald Trump seized Peter Mandelson's hand and went all husky.

Politics

2 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: When the MP finally stopped talking, the guide dog in front of her rolled over and stuck its four legs in the air, stiff as a corpse

Sir Keir Starmer has reached the 'exasperated' stage.

Politics

2 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Minister's eyes said I cannot tell you too much in case I have to strangle you afterwards...

The Commons was updated on the weekend arrest, in English towns, of several Iranians on suspicion of terror offences.

Politics

3 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Why is the political class hated? Because our rulers have turned the language into mush

Parliamentarian of the week was a Labour hereditary, Lord Berkeley, who on Monday creaked to his feet to ask about Whitehall's 'farming road map'.

Politics

3 w. ago Rocketing dud Sir Keir did well to answer the most boring man in Parliament, writes QUENTIN LETTS

QUENTIN LETTS: But the drone factory at Westminster was still producing annoying devices - known by various names, most politely 'MPs' or 'backbenchers'.

Politics

3 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Goofball Ed pranced into the Commons dressage ring with gnashers bared

QUENTIN LETTS: Energy Secretary Mr Miliband came prancing into the Commons dressage ring. He was on the tips of his hooves, gnashers bared, swishing his tail.

Politics

3 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Major Tim was a chatty fellow... space travel does that

Astronaut Tim Peake (pictured) was at a House of Lords committee to discuss outer space. Discussion soon landed on the crucial matter: should space be governed by the United Nations?

Politics