Watch as David Lammy Is Caught Red-Handed Trying to Stop the Deportation of 50 Migrants Shocking Twist
In a tense Commons exchange today, an MP put the Justice Secretary on the spot, asking sharp questions about foreign nationals in prison and past decisions on removals. The MP began by welcoming the minister to his place, then warned that the only “one out” deal that seems to work in government right now is for deputy prime ministers. He also reminded the minister of a previous, traumatic experience with one John Humphre on Mastermind, and hinted the minister should be sitting comfortably for what was coming next.
The MP demanded to know how many foreign nationals are “clogging up” the prisons and asked whether the Justice Secretary still stood by a letter he signed that opposed removing 50 foreign criminals — one of whom later went on to commit murder. He said he was looking forward to a straight answer and added a few personal jabs, noting that the minister’s predecessor had been promoted and suggesting the minister might be “auditioning for another job.”
The Justice Secretary answered with specific figures. He said there are 10,772 foreign nationals in prisons and that the number has risen under the current government. He also pointed out that prison numbers have gone up by 14% during this period and said he expected them to rise further. He stressed that, as a former foreign secretary, he had taken a close interest in these issues.
On policy, the minister urged colleagues to study the details of the government’s changes. He said the sentencing bill is being reformed so that deportation can happen at the point of sentencing. “Get into the weeds and look at the bill,” he told MPs, pushing them to read the legislation if they wanted clear answers about how deportations would work in practice.
The exchange included some mocking and light atmosphere too. One MP admitted the Justice Secretary’s reply was better than a previous gaffe — when he had been asked which monarch succeeded Henry VII and answered “Henry VIIth” — but said it still didn’t fully answer the questions being raised.
The row highlighted the wider political fight over immigration, prison numbers and how quickly people can be removed from the country after conviction. Ministers insist new laws will make deportation easier at sentencing. Critics say figures and legal details need closer scrutiny before anyone can be sure the changes will work as promised.
