They say that pride comes before a fall – and so it proved today at PMQs. In the wake of the Epping sex offender debacle, James Cartlidge, the Shadow Defence Secretary, opted to lead on the accidental release of prisoners. After forcing David Lammy at the beginning of the session to apologise (again) to the family of Hadush Kebatu’s victim, Cartlidge asked five times in a row whether any other aylum seeker offenders have been inadvertently let out since. Cue Lammy’s expostulation ‘Get a grip man! I know I am the Justice Secretary, that’s why I am at the despatch box’.
But fast forward 30 minutes and the reason for Cartlidge’s line of questioning became apparent: the Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 24-year-old Algerian asylum seeker was accidentally released from HMP Wandsworth last Wednesday. Whoops! Cartlidge duly raised the matter in a Point of Order at the close of questioning but – quelle surprise – Lammy declined the chance to address the matter. Only minutes after mocking his opponent for raising the matter repeatedly…
The Met was informed yesterday – yet Lammy did not say he knew of a second case when asked about it at PMQs. It will lead to more questions about what the Justice Secretary knew and when and whether he at any point misled the House. In the post-lobby PMQs, Downing Street was unable to shed any light on when Lammy was informed. Another fine mess, eh?
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