In a dramatic parliamentary confrontation, new Justice Secretary David Lammy has launched a scathing attack on his Conservative predecessor, accusing the previous government of leaving the prison system in complete disarray amid a growing overcrowding emergency.
Prison Capacity Reaches Breaking Point
The blistering criticism came during Lammy's first major Commons appearance since Labour's landslide victory, where he revealed the shocking state of inheritance from Robert Jenrick's tenure. "The situation we have discovered in our prisons is far worse than anticipated," Lammy declared, highlighting that available prison spaces had dwindled to barely 700 across England and Wales.
Emergency Measures and Early Releases
The crisis has forced the new government to implement emergency measures, including:
- Releasing certain prisoners up to 70 days early
- Scrambling to create additional prison capacity
- Reviewing the entire sentencing and rehabilitation framework
Lammy didn't hold back in his assessment of the Tory legacy, stating the system was "on its knees" after years of neglect and poor planning.
Jenrick's Defence and Political Firestorm
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick fired back, defending his record and accusing Lammy of political point-scoring. The exchange highlighted the bitter political divisions surrounding one of the most pressing issues facing the new government.
Lammy countered that the previous administration had been "asleep at the wheel" while the prison capacity crisis escalated, leaving the new Labour government to deal with the consequences of their negligence.
Broader Justice Reform Agenda
The confrontation signals the beginning of what promises to be a major overhaul of the justice system under Labour. With prison overcrowding reaching critical levels, Lammy faces the daunting task of:
- Immediate crisis management in the prison estate
- Long-term sentencing reform
- Rebuilding rehabilitation programmes
- Addressing court backlogs exacerbated by prison capacity issues
The explosive exchange sets the stage for what is likely to be one of the most challenging and closely watched policy areas of Keir Starmer's new government.
