SerpApi.Org
Wes Streeting has apologised for making a joke about the early release of prisoners.
The new Defence Secretary made the remarks on Tuesday in a conversation with Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, and Alex Norris, the new Justice Secretary, which was picked up by a microphone.
In the overheard comments, first reported by Metro, Mr Streeting suggested to Ms Mahmood that Mr Norris was “the enemy now” and “wants to let them all out”.
Mr Streeting, who returned to Andy Burnham’s new-look Cabinet on Monday, said on X that the remark was referencing a joke shared between Theresa May, the former Conservative prime minister and Kenneth Clarke, the former Tory chancellor.
He wrote: “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.”
He also shared an article about Mr Clarke’s remarks, commenting: “Context”.
Ms Mahmood also said there was “no ill intent” about the “ribbing” of Mr Norris.
She wrote on X: “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.”
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, wrote on X: “While Andy Burnham’s cabinet are joking about letting criminals out of prison early, Conservatives are listening to victims and will continue to fight this disgusting policy.”
Under the new Sentencing Act, set to come into force in September, around 6,000 criminals are set to be released under Labour’s early prison release scheme.
The Telegraph reported on Tuesday that two of Pc Andrew Harper’s killers are set to be released early under the Government’s plans to tackle prison overcrowding.
Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, were jailed for 13 years in 2020 for the manslaughter of Harper, 28.
The pair, who were 17 at the time, were in the car that dragged Harper for more than a mile along country roads when his ankles got caught in a towrope loop.
Harper’s mother told the Telegraph that it feels like an “insult” that two of her son’s killers may be eligible for early release from prison.
Both men might be eligible to be released from prison halfway through their sentences, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.
Mr Norris has been urged to reconsider the early release scheme and when asked about reports that the Prime Minister could be working on exempting rapists and child groomers from the scheme, his spokesman said: “The Government’s fully focused on keeping the public safe.
“We’ve got no option but to take decisive action to fix the crisis in our prisons. I’m not going to get into speculation over possible policy changes.”
