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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Rachael Burford

Rishi Sunak branded 'jumped-up milk monitor' as he is criticised over early release of criminals

Rishi Sunak was branded a "jumped-up milk monitor" focused on banning rainbow-coloured lanyards as a row over the early release of dangerous prisoners dominated Prime Minister’s Questions.

Sir Keir Starmer said the government should be focusing on defence and criminal justice rather than a suggested ban on LGBTQ branding in the civil service.

On Wednesday, the Labour leader joked that Mr Sunak had been spending his time "on the front line of the war against lanyards".

He criticised the scheme which sees some prisoners released early after it was revealed high-risk offenders, including a domestic abuser who posed a risk to children, had been freed from jail before their sentence was up.

Sir Keir told the Commons: "I appreciate he's been busy on the front line of the war against lanyards....But I am disappointed to see that version 7.0 of his time in office doesn't extend as far as answering questions, or giving any information on those prisoners he is releasing early. Basic details like - how many? Where are they? What crimes have they committed?

"So will he at least guarantee that none of the criminals he is instructing (prisons) to release early are considered high risk?"

The Prime Minister replied: "There are strict eligibility criteria in place, with exclusions based on public safety and no one will be put on the scheme if they were deemed a threat to public safety.”

The government’s early release scheme was designed to relieve overcrowding and pressure in struggling jails.

It initially involved inmates having their sentences cut by up to 18 days. But this was increased to between 35 and 60 days in March and will rise again from to 70 days later this month.

Sir Keir berated the PM for refusing to say how many prisoners have been released early, what their crimes are or what support their victims are getting.

"Doesn't he think that rather than confiscating lanyards like some jumped-up milk monitor he should stop issuing get out of jail free cards to prisoners and consider their risk to children?" he told the Commons.

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