Lammy admits lacking full details during questioning on sex offender release
The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, David Lammy, faced a growing wave of criticism after the mistaken release of a second foreign criminal. The controversy deepened only days after Lammy had promised to enforce the “strongest release checks ever.”
On Thursday, Lammy was urged to “stop digging and come clean” as he tried to avoid responsibility for the release of several foreign sex offenders. Anger erupted in Parliament when he repeatedly deflected questions about whether any other “asylum-seeking offenders” had been mistakenly freed, despite the error not yet being made public.
Shortly after Lammy’s evasive remarks, police confirmed that Algerian sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif had been wrongly released from Wandsworth Prison in south-west London. The news followed last month’s national outrage over the accidental freedom of another migrant offender, Hadush Kebatu.
“I was not equipped with all of the detail,” Lammy insisted when pressed about Kaddour-Cherif’s case during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
However, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick rejected the explanation, criticizing Lammy’s handling of the situation.
“Every time Calamity Lammy intervenes, he makes things worse,” said Jenrick.
Public and political fallout
- Two foreign sex offenders were mistakenly released within weeks.
- Police confirmed both cases separately, intensifying scrutiny of the Justice Department.
- Opposition MPs accused Lammy of evasion and incompetence.
Author’s summary: David Lammy faces fierce criticism after admitting incomplete knowledge about the wrongful release of two foreign sex offenders, deepening a political crisis over prison oversight.