David Lammy admits 91 prisoners have been wrongly launched in simply seven months – as he FINALLY faces a grilling from MPs
David Lammy is finally facing a grilling from MPs today after admitting more than 90 prisoners have been wrongly released in just seven months.
The Justice Secretary has come to the Commons nearly a week after he brazenly dodged questions on the bungles.
He was heavily criticised for his evasive performance while standing in for Keir Starmer at PMQs.
Mr Lammy was branded a ‘clown’ by opponents after refusing to answer directly whether another foreign offender had been let out by mistake – only for the truth to be confirmed minutes later.
He also compounded the confusion by suggesting he had spent the morning out suit shopping instead of dealing with the crisis.
The problems emerged after Epping migrant hotel resident and sex offender Hadush Kebatu was let out of HMP Chelmsford, on October 24 and arrested in north London after a two-day manhunt.
Justice Secretary David Lammy will come to the Commons nearly a week after he brazenly dodged questions on the bungles
Hadush Kebatu (pictured) was wrongly freed from HMP Chelmsford instead of being sent to an immigration detention centre
A manhunt was launched for an Algerian prisoner who was released by mistake from Wandsworth prison (file photo)
Mr Lammy’s stance prompted mutterings – even within Labour ranks – about whether he was up to the job.
The MoJ said today that 262 inmates were mistakenly let out in the year to March 2025 – a 128 per cent increase on the 115 in the previous 12 months.
Between April and October there have been another 91 releases in error.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has taken the unusual step of revealing in advance the questions he will ask Mr Lammy during a Commons session.
In an open letter, he wrote: ‘I have written to you, submitted Parliamentary questions and asked you in the House of Commons.
‘You have failed to give any answers.
‘In Parliament, I will once again ask basic questions that any competent Lord Chancellor would know the answers to.
‘How many prisoners have been accidentally released since 1st April 2025?
‘How many prisoners accidentally released are still at large?
‘Who has been accidentally released and how many are violent or sexual offenders?’
