SerpApi.Org
Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood have been forced to apologise after being caught joking about the early release of prisoners.
The pair’s comments were picked up by a microphone in the Downing Street garden following the first meeting of Andy Burnham’s new cabinet.
Referring to new justice secretary Alex Norris, Streeting – who was appointed defence secretary by the new PM – said: “You know he’s the enemy now he’s at justice, Shabana? He wants to let them all out.”
Laughing, home secretary Shabana replied: “No he’s not.”
When she was justice secretary after the 2024 election, Mahmood approved the early release of thousands of prisoners to ease overcrowding in jails.
In a post on X, Streeting said the exchange was a reference to comments made by former Tory prime minister Theresa May about Ken Clarke, who served as justice secretary in David Cameron’s government.
She said: “When I was home secretary and he was justice secretary, I used to say that I locked ’em up and he let ’em out.”
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday night, Streeting said: “I hope everyone can see there was no ill intent behind this ribbing of the new Justice Secretary - it was a reference to an old May/Clarke joke.
“But I appreciate these are very serious issues and am sorry for any offence inadvertently caused by this moment of levity.”
Mahmood said: “I think everyone can see there was no ill intent behind this ribbing of the new Lord Chancellor - a role I once filled and which comes with immense challenges thanks to the vandalism inflicted on our justice system by the last Conservative government.
“But I appreciate this is an extremely serious issue and do not want anyone to mistake this moment of levity for a lack of serious intent.”
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