Keir Starmer mugged pensioners and freed muggers today on a day of shame for Labour.
The Prime Minister ordered his MPs to ram through a ‘cruel’ raid on pensioners while authorising the early release of hundreds of prisoners – including thieves, drug dealers and killers.
In sickening scenes this morning, freed inmates celebrated by soaking themselves in champagne. One former prisoner was met by friends in a Lamborghini while another boasted that he was now a ‘lifelong Labour voter’.
Just hours later, ten million pensioners were stripped of their winter fuel payments as the party forced through the controversial measure in a Commons vote.
Critics said Sir Keir’s true agenda was now being laid bare – 68 days after he entered No10 with a landslide majority.
Keir Starmer ordered his MPs to ram through a ‘cruel’ raid on pensioners while authorising the early release of hundreds of prisoners – including thieves, drug dealers and killers
In sickening scenes this morning, freed inmates celebrated by soaking themselves in champagne. Pictured: People spray a man after he walked out of HMP Nottingham
One former prisoner was met by friends in a Lamborghini outside HMP Pentonville in London
Neither policy was mentioned in Labour’s election manifesto – with the party even denying it would rob elderly voters of the energy subsidy during the campaign.
Ministers blamed the decisions on the ‘dire’ legacy left behind by the last Conservative government.
But senior Tories accused the Prime Minister of deliberately concealing his ‘cruel, ideological’ approach from voters in the run-up to the election.
Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick told the Mail: ‘The reality of Sir Keir Starmer’s Britain was laid bare today.
‘Dangerous criminals popping champagne corks as they’re freed from our jails early and on to our streets because Labour has chosen the easy way out.
‘And Sir Keir’s lies on protecting winter fuel payments exposed, with millions of pensioners now forced to pay the price this winter – some on as little as £13,000-a year. A day of shame. And a sign of the disaster that awaits our country if we don’t stop Labour.’
Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick told the Mail: ‘The reality of Sir Keir Starmer’s Britain was laid bare today’
Sir Keir spent much of the day at the TUC conference in Brighton where he was given a standing ovation by union bosses as he pledged to tear up anti-strike laws and introduce a raft of new rights for workers
A man gives the camera two middle fingers as he walks out of HMP Leeds under Labour’s scheme this morning
A man and woman hug each other outside HMP Bristol as inmates are released from jail early
In a sign that Labour’s agenda is starting to hit home with voters, one poll found that the PM’s approval ratings had slumped by 30 points in the two months since he was elected. The survey by More in Common found that his net approval rating fell from plus 11 in July to minus 20 this week.
Sir Keir spent much of the day at the TUC conference in Brighton where he was given a standing ovation by union bosses as he pledged to tear up anti-strike laws and introduce a raft of new rights for workers.
Meanwhile, at prisons across the country, convicted criminals celebrated with family and friends after being freed early under a scheme to reduce overcrowding.
Convicted drug dealer Djaber Benallaoua, 20, said the decision to release him six months early had made him a ‘lifelong Labour voter’.
However victims and their families warned that the decision left them feeling ‘sick to the stomach’.
Dozens of killers could be among the 5,500 prisoners freed over the next few weeks – with more than 1,700 released today. Another thug who shook a baby boy so hard he left him blind has also been approved for release.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the last government had left prisons at the ‘point of collapse’, giving her no choice but to introduce the scheme.
Convicted drug dealer Djaber Benallaoua, 20, said the decision to release him six months early had made him a ‘lifelong Labour voter’
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the last government had left prisons at the ‘point of collapse’, giving her no choice but to introduce the scheme
Regarding the winter fuel payments, Labour’s former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: ‘[The move] flies against everything I believe in as a Labour MP about tackling inequality and poverty in our society. I was not elected to impoverish my constituents and put them in this hardship.’
Former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey said Labour had ‘declared war on pensioners’ because they were more likely to vote Conservative after the cut to winter fuel payments
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said ministers had been left with ‘no choice’ but to make the £1.5billion cut to help fill an alleged £22billion ‘black hole’ left behind by the previous Tory administration
But the Tories’ justice spokesman Ed Argar said ministers had designed the scheme themselves – and accused Sir Keir of breaking a previous commitment not to release domestic abusers early.
Meanwhile there were angry clashes in the Commons over the decision to means-test the winter fuel payment.
Dozens of Labour MPs abstained on the vote about the policy – which the party itself warned could kill 4,000 pensioners a year in previous research from 2017.
Labour’s former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: ‘[The move] flies against everything I believe in as a Labour MP about tackling inequality and poverty in our society. I was not elected to impoverish my constituents and put them in this hardship.’
Former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey said Labour had ‘declared war on pensioners’ because they were more likely to vote Conservative.
But Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said ministers had been left with ‘no choice’ but to make the £1.5billion cut to help fill an alleged £22billion ‘black hole’ left behind by the previous Tory administration.
He said that increases in the state pension – including a £460 rise next year – would help ensure pensioners do not lose out.