Ken Clarke Says Sorry Over Rape Comments

Ken Clarke has apologised for giving the impression he does not consider some rape cases as serious.

The Justice Secretary earlier told Sky News he regarded "all rape as a serious crime", after he appeared to suggest there were different categories of the offence.

He was forced to clarify comments in which he seemed to draw a distinction between "serious, proper rapes" and others.

Speaking to Sky News political editor Adam Boulton , Mr Clarke said he did not mean to cause any offence - but did not apologised.

"I don't intend to give the impression, and didn't intend to choose words which gave the impression, that all rape is not serious," he said.

"Every rape is serious. That's always been my view.

"It has always been my view that rape is one of the most serious crimes, it's a very serious crime. All rape is a serious crime.

"Obviously it's a mistake if I gave the impression I have any other views."

The furore began after Mr Clarke gave media interviews in which he defended Government proposals to halve the sentences of some rapists if they make early guilty pleas.

During a BBC Radio 5 Live phone-in programme, the Justice Secretary spoke about the average five-year prison sentence for rape.

"That includes date rape, 17-year-olds having intercourse with 15-year-olds," he said.

But a clearly upset caller, who identified herself as a rape victim, criticised the tone Mr Clarke was taking.

Late on Wednesday, the Ministry of Justice announced the minister had written to the unidentified woman and said he was sorry.

Mr Clarke's letter read: "I have always believed that all rape is extremely serious and must be treated as such.

"I am sorry if my comments gave you any other impression or upset you."

Following his BBC radio appearance, he said in a Sky News interview: "Rape has been singled out mainly to add a bit of sexual excitement to the headlines."

He went on to speak about "classic rape" and "proper rape".

Mr Clarke later told Boulton: "People get different sentences, which is what I was trying to explain, because that is the judge's decision.

"You can get a very bad case of rape, that is why the tariff starts at 10 years, but all cases of rape are a serious crime."

During a heated Prime Minister's Questions, Labour leader Ed Miliband said Mr Clarke should be sacked.

"The Justice Secretary cannot speak for the women of this country when he makes comments like that," Mr Miliband said.

Challenged by the Labour leader at PMQs about Mr Clarke's comments, David Cameron said he had not heard the radio interview concerned.

However Mr Miliband told him: "The Prime Minister when he leaves this chamber should go and look at the comments of the Justice Secretary.

"Then he should say to him very clearly, the Justice Secretary should not be in his post at the end of today."

The Government says its proposal to halve the sentences of rape offenders who admit their guilt would spare victims the ordeal of re-living their attack by giving evidence in court.

However, Mr Miliband said: "That could mean the rapist spending as little as 15 months in prison. That is not an acceptable policy and the Prime Minister should drop it."

Mr Cameron said Mr Miliband was "jumping to conclusions on this issue" and pointed out a discount of one-third was already available for a guilty plea.

He added it had not yet been decided whether rape would be covered under the new system.

"We are consulting on whether to extend a plea bargaining system to make it even more powerful," Mr Cameron said.

"We have not yet decided which offences it should apply to or how it should be brought in, this is a consultation."

Under existing laws, those who plead guilty to rape at the earliest opportunity can have their jail terms reduced by up to a third.

The standard tariff for a rape conviction is five years.

The new plans - revealed by Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt on Tuesday - have been criticised by victims groups.

Yvonne Traynor, from charity Rape Crisis , said the scheme was "unworkable".

"These plans would only take effect if the perpetrator admits the rape early on," she said.

"In all my years I have only ever known one case where a perpetrator has admitted their guilt straight away.

"Victims come forward because they want to see justice. This is not justice and it certainly does not say 'We're taking rape seriously'.

"These plans are simply an attempt to save money."