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Who's to blame for 'prisons crisis' as Burnham pauses early release scheme? | The Cathy Newman Show
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July 23, 2026
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54:32Now PlayingA justice minister who fought to get the prisoner early release scheme through parliament has said it is "absolutely right" that Andy Burnham has paused its implementation.
Jake Richards was a justice minister under Sir Keir Starmer and told MPs last month that without the early release scheme "the courts would be at risk of grinding to a halt, preventing sex offenders and others from being brought to justice".
Richards is now sentencing minister under Burnham.
Speaking to The Cathy Newman Show, he is asked if his verdict that courts will grind to a halt will now happen - with the scheme paused.
"Well no, what’s been announced today by the prime minister is that he is looking at some of the implementation measures of the Sentencing Act," he replies.
"But it's absolutely right that a new prime minister and a new justice secretary and indeed any government keep those implementation measures under review to ensure that the public are kept safe, the public have confidence in the system, and there is a sustainable prison system."
Steve Gillan, General Secretary of the Prison Officers Association, tells Cathy that "politicians talk a load of rubbish" and make prison officers a political football.
Also on the show, Cathy speaks to actor Dame Maureen Lipman about her West End show Allegra.
On the panel:
Caroline Flint, Former Labour Housing Secretary
Kwasi Kwarteng, Former Conservative Chancellor
#cathynewman #skynews #prisons #sentencing #ukpolitics #justice
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