- Defence secretary Wes Streeting has apologised after comments he made about the early release of prisoners were inadvertently picked up by a microphone.
- During a conversation with home secretary Shabana Mahmood and justice secretary Alex Norris, Mr Streeting suggested Mr Norris “wants to let them all out”.
- Mr Streeting clarified on X that his comment was a reference to a joke between Theresa May and Kenneth Clarke, apologising “for any offence inadvertently caused by this moment of levity.”
- Ms Mahmood also said there was “no ill intent” about the “ribbing” of Mr Norris.
- It comes as the new Sentencing Act is set to come into force in September, which could see approximately 6,000 criminals released early from prison.
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