Fury as Wes Streeting & Shabana Mahmood caught on hot mic joking about Labour’s early prison release scheme

WES Streeting and Shabana Mahmood have landed in hot water after they were caught on a hot mic joking about Labour’s early prison release scheme. Embarassing footage shows the two Cabinet ministers joking with new justice secretary Alex Norris, with Streeting saying: “He wants to let them all out”. New Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the joke was ‘a reference to an old May/Clarke joke’ The Home Secretary has issued an apology after the joke sparked outrage The duo were caught on a hot mic outside No10 after new PM Andy Burnham‘s first Cabinet meeting – with the poor taste gaffe coming just one day into the new look Government. And their comments have sparked fury, with Reform MP Robert Jenrick saying: “The real pain and suffering early prison release has caused so many people is clearly funny to the Labour Party.” Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Mr Streeting has since apologised in a post online, saying “it was a reference to an old May/Clarke joke”, while Mahmood said there was “no ill intent.” It also came just hours before it emerged PC Andrew Harper’s killers are set for early release. Hours before the gaffe it was reported two men were set to be released mid way through their sentence for killing PC Andrew Harper Credit: PA A car dragged Andrew to his death when his ankles were caught in a towrope in 2019. Credit: PA Labour have released almost 40,000 criminals from prison early since September 2024 – saying they need to ease overcrowding. In footage of the gaffe, Mr Streeting can be heard saying: “You know he’s [Alex Norris] the enemy now, Justice Shabana?” Ms Mahmood replied: “No he’s not!” The new Defence Secretary said: “He wants to let them all out.” Most read in The Sun Ms Mahmood then responded: “You know who’s boss!” The Ministry of Justice figures show 38,042 were freed under the scheme between September 2024 and June 2025. Labour introduced the scheme after prisons almost reached full capacity – with the government saying the inherited a crisis of overcrowding. Under the emergency measures some inmates are released after serving 40 per cent of their fixed term sentence. Reform Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick was not impressed with the Cabinet ministers’ joke and took to social media to slam the duo – brandingthemn “out of touch.” He said: “Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood have been caught laughing about letting prisoners out early. Albert Bowers was jailed for manslaughter but will be released under the scheme Credit: PA Jessie Cole was also jailed for manslaughter but will be released under the scheme Credit: PA “Last year someone died after a prisoner released early killed them the same day. But the real pain and suffering early prison release has caused so many people is clearly funny to the Labour Party. “They were caught out joking in the Number 10 garden as they congratulated themselves on their new jobs. They could not be more out of touch from the real world. “Truly rotten behaviour. “Only Reform UK can shake up the rotten establishment.” Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also wrote in a statement: “While Andy Burnham’s cabinet are joking about letting criminals out of prison early, Conservatives are listening to victims and will continue to fight this disgusting policy.” Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Shabana Mahmood and Wes Streeting laughing about letting criminals – including rapists – out of prison early. “This is despicable Letting rapists out of prison early is not funny. “They should both apologise – and cancel their early release plans for rapists.” Susan Hall, the leader of the Tories on the London Assembly, said: “The early release from Prison of murderers, rapists , grooming gang members is a disgrace in itself. “Anyone laughing about should not be in Labours Government.” After the opposition’s dressing down, Streeting and Mahmood both apologised for “ribbing” Norris about the early release scheme. Mr Streeting said in a post online: “I hope everyone can see there was no ill intent behind this ribbing of the new justice secretary – it was a reference to an old May/Clarke joke. “But I appreciate these are very serious issues and am sorry for any offence inadvertently caused by this moment of levity.” Streeting was referencing comments between former Tory home secretary Theresa May and justice secretary Kenneth Clarke. May joked she “locked ‘em up and he let ‘em out” when explaining the roles. The Home Secretary also posted online: “I think everyone can see there was no ill intent behind this ribbing of the new lord chancellor – a role I once filled and which comes with immense challenges thanks to the vandalism inflicted on our justice system by the last Conservative government. “But I appreciate this is an extremely serious issue and do not want anyone to mistake this moment of levity for a lack of serious intent.” Hours before the footage emerged it was revealed that two of PC Andrew Harper’s killers could be set for an early release from jail under Labour’s plans. Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole were jailed for 13 years in 2020 for the manslaughter of the 28-year-old officer. The pair, who were 17 at the time of the offence in August 2019, were passengers in the car that dragged PC Harper for more than a mile along country roads when his ankles got caught in a towrope loop. He had gone to investigate the theft of a quad bike when Bowers and Cole tried to escape in a vehicle driven by a third killer, Henry Long. PC Harper sustained serious injuries and died in the road. But the pair are now eligible to be freed just halfway through their sentences under the Ministry of Justice early release scheme. 11 comments11