Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood, two Cabinet-level ministers in the Labour-controlled British government, were caught joking and laughing about early prison releases, prompting apologies on social media.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: British government ministers Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood have been criticized for joking about the early release of prisoners during a hot-mic moment. 📺 DETAIL: This week, Wes Streeting, the new Defense Secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, equivalent to the U.S. Secretaries of War and Homeland Security, were caught joking about the Labor government’s decision to release many prisoners early. Talking about Alex Norris, the newly-appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary for Justice, Streeting is recoded saying: “You know he’s [Norris] the enemy now, Justice Shabana?” to which Mahmood responds, “No, he’s not.” Streeting then quips: “He wants to let them all out,” prompting laughter. The incident was recorded without Streeting’s or Mahmood’s knowledge. The two Cabinet ministers subsequently issued apologies on social media. On X (formerly Twitter), Mahmood posted: “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.” Streeting posted: “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,” he said, referring to former Conservative Home Secretary (later Prime Minister) Theresa May saying of former Conservative Justice Secretary Ken Clarke, “I locked ’em up and he let ’em out.” 💬 KEY QUOTE: “It’s incredibly disappointing and very hurtful, particularly to those friends and families of people who will be due for early release.” – Sir Mel Stride, Shadow Chancellor. 🎯 IMPACT: The incident adds to the controversy surrounding the government’s decision to release prisoners early. Back in June, it was reported that the Labour government planned to release up to 6,000 serious offenders from prison, including murderers and rapists, to tackle overcrowding. Specifically, the government plans to allow more offenders to be released halfway through their sentences. Originally, more dangerous prisoners were eligible for early release only after serving two-thirds of their sentence. “Once the MoJ [Ministry of Justice] starts writing to victims and saying this is what is happening, there will inevitably be individual victims who have suffered at the hands of an offender who will become very upset,” said Tom Wheatley, President of the Prison Governors’ Association. |
Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
