Rattled David Lammy cannot say whether another asylum seeker has been accidentally freed from jail after Kebatu blunder during lively PMQs
David Lammy was unable to say whether any other asylum seekers had been accidentally released from prison since the botched release of Hadush Kebatu.
Asked during Prime Minister’s Questions whether any foreign-born criminals had been mistakenly released from prison in the last three weeks, the stunned deputy prime minister who replaced Sir Keir Starmer dodged the question.
Shadow Defense Secretary James Cartlidge, who replaced Kemi Badenoch, asked Mr Lammy to “reassure the House that no other asylum seeker criminals have been accidentally released from prison since Kebatu’s release”.
“It’s a very simple question to answer,” Mr Cartlidge added.
Mr Lammy, the Justice Minister, responded: “After his release I introduced the strictest controls we have ever had in the prison system. It is important that Lynne Owens can get to the bottom of her job. I suspect there will be more checks and balances that we will need to put in place.”
Pressing Mr Lammy further on the issue, Mr Cartlidge said: “He is the justice minister. He is responsible for the justice system. He needs to take responsibility.”
“And for the avoidance of doubt, I’ll repeat this one more time because he didn’t answer twice.
“Can he reassure the House that no other asylum-seeking criminals have accidentally been released from prison since Kebatu’s release?”
Increasingly agitated, the deputy prime minister replied: “Be careful mate, I know I’m the minister of justice, that’s why I’m in the mailbox.
“We know there have been spikes on his watch since 2021. When did he come to this House and apologize?”
Asked for the last time, Mr Lammy replied: “I spent 14 years in opposition and did a lot better than he ever did.
“I answered the question. Under their watch, the prisons were in shambles. Suicides increased. The prison warden cut back – he lost 20,000 neighborhood cops.
This is breaking news. More to follow…
