British opposition leader Ed Miliband called on prime minister David Cameron to fire justice secretary Ken Clarke over comments he made today about plans to reduce sentences for rapists who plead guilty at an early stage.
Mr Clarke was criticised by a rape victim who broke down in tears on a radio show over his proposals. The unnamed woman caller on BBC Radio 5 said she suffered two years of trauma before her attacker pleaded guilty and told Mr Clarke his plans are a "disaster".
"This morning the justice secretary was on the radio suggesting there was "serious rape" and other types of rape," Mr Miliband told Mr Cameron at the prime minister's weekly questions and answers session in parliament.
"The justice secretary should not be in his post by the end of today."
Mr Clarke defended his proposals, which could see rapists having their sentences halved if they plead guilty before a case goes to trial. That may mean a sex attacker could serve as little as 15 months in jail.
"The reason for giving a discount for pleading guilty is so the victim doesn't have to be put through the ordeal again," Mr Clarke told the radio show.
"We'll give you credit if you put your hands up, stop messing about and don't make it worse for the victim," he added.
The crying woman told Mr Clarke: "I wouldn't wish what I went through, fighting the criminal-justice system for 688 days, on my worst enemy. I'd gone through the trauma of it, for the 688 days and then on that 688th day he pleads guilty and gets out early."
Mr Clarke's radio comments caused a scrum of reporters to ask him to clarify his position. Appearing on BBC News television later, he said the media had made a "parody of my proposals."
Bloomberg