Labour Accused of Being ‘Soft on Justice’ as Thousands of Criminals Released Early
A former Attorney General condemned Labour's plan to release 6,000 serious offenders early from prison as a deliberate choice prioritising welfare spending over public safety.
According to GB News, up to 6,000 offenders convicted of serious crimes including manslaughter, rape and sexual assault could be freed early under the controversial prison release programme.
The first wave of 700 prisoners is scheduled for release in September, with similar numbers to follow each month over the next nine months in a staggered approach.
Sir Michael Ellis, former Attorney General, delivered a scathing assessment of the policy during an interview with GB News. He characterised the decision as a calculated trade-off that sacrifices criminal justice investment in favour of increased welfare spending.
The former senior law officer argued that the government has made a conscious choice not to invest in the prison estate or the wider criminal justice system, instead opting to reduce costs by expediting prisoner releases.
This is a disgrace, Sir Michael told the broadcaster, adding that being in government requires leadership and decision-making. He contended that Labour has decided to tax citizens more heavily while redirecting funds away from prisons and courts toward welfare programmes.
The early release scheme has sparked outrage among critics who warn it represents a soft-on-crime approach that endangers public safety in order to achieve budgetary savings.
Sentencing Impact
Under the proposed framework, offenders sentenced to 15 years for violent crimes such as manslaughter or rape would be released in under seven years, representing less than half their original sentence.
The accelerated release schedule raises serious questions about whether justice is being served for victims and whether adequate consideration has been given to public protection.
Sir Michael’s criticism centres on what he describes as a fundamental misalignment of government priorities, with the administration choosing welfare expansion over maintaining robust criminal justice infrastructure.
The controversy adds to mounting pressure on the Labour government over its handling of law and order issues, with opposition figures warning that early prisoner releases could undermine confidence in the justice system and potentially endanger communities.
With information from GB News
