Keir Starmer rejects whole life sentences for Southport killer due to international law

The British government has ruled out changing laws to impose whole life sentences on under-18 offenders, following the sentencing of Axel Rudakubana, who received a 52-year minimum term for the murders of three young girls at a dance class in Southport. Both Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson and Keir Starmer have cited international law, specifically the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as a barrier to such changes. Critics, including politicians and victims' families, are calling for legal reforms to allow for harsher sentences in exceptional cases involving minors. Despite the public outcry, government officials maintain their commitment to international obligations, which prevent imposing life sentences without the possibility of parole on those under 18. Some members of the Conservative Party are exploring potential amendments to this rule. The case has sparked broader discussions on children's rights and the legal system's handling of severe crimes committed by minors.