Liberal Democrat peer, John Sharkey, whose Private Member’s Bill was instrumental in securing a pardon for Alan Turing, has reached an agreement with the Government which will grant a posthumous pardon to thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted under long abolished sexual offence laws.
Those similarly convicted but still alive will, however, still only receive pardons if they have successfully applied for a disregard or in future successfully apply for a disregard under the Protection of Freedoms Act.
The Government will add their name to the Liberal Democrat amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill that when passed will finally grant this pardon to thousands of people.
This has been a long fought campaign for the Liberal Democrats who first raised the issue in the Houses of Parliament in the early days of Coalition Government and which has since gained momentum amongst parliamentarians from all parties.
An original bill for a blanket pardon, presented by SNP MP John Nicholas was prevented by a filibuster. Tory Justice minister Sam Gyimah talked for so long it was timed out.