Prime Minister Andy Burnham has publicly rebuked two of his cabinet ministers after they were caught on camera joking about releasing prisoners, while a separate challenge emerged as the energy sector urged his government to approve major oil and gas fields.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting was overheard telling Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood that new Justice Secretary Alex Norris “wants to let them all out” in footage filmed on Tuesday, when broadcasters were invited to cover the cabinet’s first meeting. The clip, first published by Metro journalist Craig Munro, showed Streeting joking that Norris was “the enemy now” before Mahmood replied “You know who’s boss!” as the pair laughed.
“Burnham rebukes ministers for joke on prisoner releases; energy sector urges approval for Rosebank and Jackdaw.”
Asked whether it was appropriate for ministers to joke about early prisoner releases, Burnham told reporters: “No it’s not, and certainly that’s been acknowledged and apologies have been made.” Streeting later apologised on X, saying he was referencing a joke Theresa May used to make about Ken Clarke, and added: “I hope everyone can see there was no ill intent behind this ribbing of the new justice secretary. But I appreciate these are very serious issues and am sorry for any offence inadvertently caused by this moment of levity.” Mahmood issued a similar statement, saying: “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.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the pair of making light of the scheme, announced in 2024 when Mahmood was justice secretary, to release some prisoners early to ease overcrowding. “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,” she wrote on X. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said it was “right” that Streeting had apologised, adding the remarks “don’t reflect the seriousness” with which the cabinet approaches public safety.
On the same day the controversy erupted, the energy sector called for a “powerful reset” from Burnham’s government, with ministers urged to give the go-ahead to the Jackdow and Rosebank oil and gas fields — a sign of the competing pressures facing the new administration as it balances public safety messaging with economic demands.