Justice Secretary David Lammy has announced that murderers who kill their current or ex-partner in England and Wales will now face an extra 10 years behind bars, following years of tireless campaigning by the mothers of victims. The decision, announced in the House of Commons on Tuesday, closes a sentencing gap that had seen domestic murderers receive up to 10 years fewer than those who kill in other contexts.
Campaigners' Emotional Victory
Carole Gould, Julie Devey, and Elaine Newborough—mothers of young women killed by partners or ex-partners—watched from the public gallery as Lammy made the announcement. The women had met with Lammy two months earlier, presenting him with photographs of their daughters and demanding change. During that meeting, Gould challenged the minister: “Imagine this was your daughter.” After a tense silence, Lammy agreed to raise the minimum sentence to 25 years.
“We’re just a bit stunned, thinking have we heard this right?” said Gould. “And then we just burst into tears.”
Closing the Sentencing Gap
Previously, domestic murderers faced a maximum of 15 years if the killing took place in a domestic setting using a weapon from the home, compared to 25 years for murders elsewhere. In the cases of Ellie Gould, 17, killed by Thomas Griffiths in 2019, and Poppy Devey Waterhouse, 24, murdered by Joe Atkinson in 2018, the killers received sentences of 12.5 and 16 years respectively. The new measure, subject to consultation with the Sentencing Council, aims to ensure such crimes are treated with appropriate severity.
Campaign Group Killed Women
The mothers founded the organisation Killed Women, which has run campaigns including “You were told” (2023) highlighting systemic failures, “Fallen Women” (2024) pressuring police to examine domestic abuse in suspicious deaths, and “Invisible Women” (2025) focusing on vulnerabilities of black, minoritised, and migrant victims. They also collaborated with the Guardian on the “Killed Women Count” campaign, which documented every known death of a woman allegedly killed by a man in 2024.
Support from MPs and Officials
Labour MP Jess Phillips, who has supported the group since its inception, said the women had righted a “fundamental unfairness” in the criminal justice system. Domestic Abuse Commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs expressed disappointment that the sentencing increase will not apply when a victim is killed by a family member, including sons killing mothers or so-called “honour” abuse. Campaigners acknowledged the measure is not perfect but vowed to continue their work.
“We’ll keep going,” said Devey. “We’re not going to stop now.” Gould added that the change is “a recognition that he is as dangerous as someone inside for 25 years,” referring to her daughter’s killer, who faces a Parole Board hearing.
