Badenoch calls for emergency legislation to stop early release scheme

Image source, PA Media Image caption, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch making a speech By Jennifer McKiernan Political reporter Published 27 July 2026 Updated 6 hours ago Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Prime Minister Andy Burnham to bring in emergency legislation in order to stop the early release of hundreds of prisoners. Burnham announced last week that he was pausing the scheme, which would have seen about 700 prisoners freed in the first phase in September, following a backlash from survivors and victims. But the Conservatives say the government's review will not stop offenders being released. The scheme was part of a bid to stop unprecedented overcrowding, which Labour says was caused by Conservative governments failing to build new prisons. A Labour spokesperson said: "It's this government that is fixing the Tories' mess." Early release was first used by the Conservative government , external in 2023 because of prison overcrowding, first for 18 and then 70 days, and 10,000 prisoners had been released early by June 2024 - before Labour came to power. When Sir Keir Starmer entered Downing Street in July 2024, there were fewer than 100 spare prison places across the adult male estate, which is what prompted the Sentencing Act to release another 6,000 prisoners early from September. While the act already excludes the most serious and dangerous offenders, such as murderers serving life sentences or those on extended sentences, the eligibility for early release is based on the length of sentence , external , rather than the type of offence. Badenoch is calling on Burnham to fast-track legislation to keep serious offenders behind bars. "It's all well and good cutting bills and bus fares, but that pales into insignificance when paedophiles and rapists are about to be let out on our streets," she is expected to say at a press conference with victims on Tuesday. "Burnham needs to show us he's ready to take the tough decisions." Without emergency legislation, Badenoch says dangerous offenders will start to be released the day after MPs return to Parliament after the summer recess on Tuesday 1 September. She is calling on Burnham to revoke legislation coming into effect on 2 September and if necessary recall Parliament to ensure the worst violent and sexual offenders are exempted from early release. Conservative shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy said: "Victims should not have to live in fear all summer waiting for a review. "The clock is ticking. Thousands of rapists, paedophiles, and other serious criminals are set to be released in September. "Labour must act now and stop the mass release of dangerous criminals." Earlier this month, the Conservative front bench sought to put pressure on the government to rethink the earlier release plans, saying that it would mean some rapists would leave prison sooner than expected. The government stood by the plan, saying it was a political choice to manage offenders on strict condition