At a glance...
• Deputy PM David Lammy faced fierce questioning in Parliament after migrant sex offender, Hadush Kebatu, was wrongly released from HMP Chelmsford — with a second mistaken prison release later revealed
• Lammy apologised for the “anxiety caused” but refused to confirm if others had been mistakenly freed, accusing the Tories of failing to manage the justice system before Labour took office
• A review is underway into the Kebatu blunder, which caused public outrage and distress to the victim’s family - findings are expected in eight weeks.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told the Tory opposition to “get a grip” as he faced a barrage of questions about the accidental release of a migrant sex offender from prison.
Mr Lammy, who is also the Justice Secretary, filled in for Sir Keir Starmer at fiery Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, making history as the first black politician ever to lead the weekly debate in the Commons.
He told MPs it was "hugely important" to get to the bottom of what happened when Ethiopian national Hadush Kebatu was wrongly freed from HMP Chelmsford last month.
But shorty after PMQs it was revealed a manhunt is under way for a second migrant who has been wrongly freed from HMP Wandsworth.
The 24-year-old Algerian man was accidentally realeased on Wednesday last week, but the Metropolitan Police was only informed at lunchtime on Tuesday.
The state of the justice system Labour inherited when the party entered office was "a shameful spectacle", Mr Lammy said.
However, he refused to say whether any other asylum-seeking defendants had been accidentally let out of jail as he was pushed on the subject.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge, appearing instead of Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, asked multiple times about mistaken releases following the Kebatu debacle.
"He's the Justice Secretary. He's responsible for the justice system. He needs to take responsibility,” Mr Cartlidge told the Commons.
"And I'm going to repeat it once more for the avoidance of doubt, because he did not answer it twice.
"Can he reassure the House that since Kebatu was released, no other asylum-seeking offender has been accidentally let out of prison?"
Mr Lammy responded: "Get a grip, man, I know I'm the Justice Secretary, that's why I'm at the despatch box.
"We know that there have been spikes since 2021 under his watch. When did he come to this House and apologise?"
Mr Cartlidge referred to an ITV interview with the father of the 14-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted by Kebatu who said the Government had failed them “relentlessly”.
"Now I confess, I'm surprised the Deputy Prime Minister hasn't already apologised,” Mr Cartlidge said.
“So I'm going to give him an opportunity now, will he apologise to the family concerned?"
Referring to a Commons statement last month, Mr Lammy replied: "He must have missed the debate, because in the debate, of course, I said sorry for the anxiety caused whilst Kebatu was at large - and I repeat that.
"And it's hugely important that Dame Lynne Owens now gets to the bottom of what has happened with her further investigation."
A review into how the offender, who had previously been living at the Bell asylum hotel in Epping, was mistakenly released from prison is to conclude within eight weeks, the Ministry of Justice has said.
Kebatu was arrested in London following a three-day manhunt that was sparked when HMP Chelmsford freed him in error on October 24.
His 14-year-old victim has said she felt "so scared and so anxious" due to the blunder.
Dame Lynne Owens, who is leading the review, will consult the family as part of her inquiries.
Kebatu was jailed for one year in September after being convicted of two sexual assaults, harassing the girl and inciting her to engage in sexual activity in July.
Prison staff were meant to be taking him to a deportation centre when he was instead released by mistake.
The Ethiopian was paid £500 and deported on October 28.
