Good Morning Britain viewers have praised Richard Madeley after his 'car crash' interview with Justice Minister Alex Norris over the early prisoner release scheme. During Tuesday's ITV programme (August 4), Madeley and co-host Charlotte Hawkins challenged Norris on the policy, which allows some offenders to be released early.
Madeley's tough questioning
While those convicted of rape, serious child sex offences and grooming are excluded, individuals serving manslaughter sentences will qualify for early release. This includes two men imprisoned for their involvement in the death of PC Andrew Harper in 2019, sparking widespread outrage.
Madeley confronted Norris, saying: "This is what failure looks like, isn't it? You've got police killers, I emphasise that. Police killers, killing them, took place in circumstances that one can barely describe. It was so horrific, being let out after six years. I repeat, this is what failure looks like isn't it?"
Norris's response
Norris attempted to respond, saying: "This is not a situation we'd want to be in -" but was interrupted by Madeley, who continued: "Of course it's not! No one is suggesting that you want to be in this situation; that's a waste of breath."
Madeley pressed further, stating: "What we're trying to get at is the failure of this government to come up with imaginative alternatives to letting people like the two men in that car, who dragged that poor 27-year-old policeman behind them for a mile at two in the morning, leading to his appalling death, being allowed out after six years. It's just clearly wrong, isn't it?"
Viewers react
Norris replied: "Of course, and I've expressed my sorrow to the families because they quite clearly don't think that justice has been done, and I totally understand that."
When Hawkins raised PC Harper's case, she questioned why police killers couldn't be exempted from the scheme. Madeley then asked whether a special exception could be made for those involved in PC Harper's death, but Norris said this wasn't possible, explaining: "No, you couldn't do that. Fundamentally, it comes down to the offence for which someone has been convicted and their sentence type. You can't go one by one and decide which ones should and shouldn't."
Viewers took to social media to commend Madeley's questioning. One viewer remarked: "Car crash interview on @GMB with Justice Minister @AlexJJNorris on early release of prisoners. Huge damage to @andyburnham project. #Justice Great job by @richardm56 in speaking truth to power."
Another commented: "This Justice Secretary is getting absolutely schooled on @GMB by Richard Madeley." A third wrote: "Richard Madeley absolutely roasting the new Justice Secretary Alex Norris on @GMB right now on the early release of police killers, it's indefensible."
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV from 6am.
