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Anon 14:53, I think the mandatory sentence for rape is a different debate. The point is that if we have a fixed age of consent, that should be the end of the discussion. The law requires clarity in order to function properly. It shouldn't be the case that a statutory age of consent can be talked around. It is what it is and Germany, France and Sweden don't appear to struggle with that in principle.

It's arguable that a life sentence is too harsh, but that's a different debate about the proportionality of sentencing and not the offence in in principle.