Government Minister Backs Lammy Amid Prisoner Release Fallout
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy is facing mounting pressure over the mistaken release of a prisoner from Wandsworth prison, with an Algerian sex offender remaining at large. The incident has sparked significant criticism from across the political spectrum and exposed deep concerns about the state of the UK's prison system.
Colleagues Express 'Disquiet' Over Handling
According to reports in The Times, anonymous senior ministers have described Lammy's handling of the situation as 'cowardly' and evidence of 'rank incompetence'. This criticism emerged after Lammy told Parliament on Wednesday that he was 'not equipped with all the detail' when questioned about the mistaken release of Brahim Kaddour-Cherif.
Despite the internal criticism, Lammy has received public support from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was attending the Cop30 summit in Brazil. Starmer stated it was 'right' that his deputy was 'setting out the facts to the best of his knowledge'. The Prime Minister is returning from Brazil today.
Housing Secretary Dismisses Criticism as 'Tittle Tattle'
Housing Secretary Steve Reed strongly defended his colleague during an interview with Times Radio, dismissing the criticism from fellow ministers as 'anonymous tittle tattle'. Reed shifted focus to what he described as a 'broken system' that requires fundamental reform.
'The problem is we've got a broken system, and you are going to see failings when you have a broken system,' Reed stated. 'The key is to make sure we have a digital system so that no prisoner is ever released by mistake.'
Reed revealed that Lammy had already met with prison governors in his office yesterday, suggesting they 'felt pretty hauled over the coals' given recent events. However, he emphasised that the Justice Secretary was also ensuring they receive 'all the support they need' to implement tougher checks aimed at preventing similar incidents.
Meanwhile, pre-Budget speculation continues with Labour's new deputy leader, Lucy Powell, asserting that the party should honour its manifesto commitment not to raise income tax, national insurance, or VAT. This position presents an early challenge for Chancellor Rachel Reeves as the government navigates the country's financial pressures alongside the ongoing prisons crisis.
