UK Ministers Apologise After Hot-Mic Jokes About Prisoner Early Release

A leaked video from 21 July 2026 shows Defence Secretary Wes Streeting joking that new Justice Secretary Alex Norris "wants to let them all out," referring to September's Sentencing Act early release scheme. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood laughed along. Both apologised. Victims' advocates condemned the remarks; Rape Crisis CEO Ciara Bergman called early release of convicted rapists "no laughing matter."