Reform UK leader Nigel Farage quizzed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on accusations of "two-tier justice" after thousands of prisoners were released early yesterday due to overcrowding in jails.
Speaking at PMQs, Farage said: "Yesterday we witnessed some extraordinary celebratory scenes outside Britain's prisons where in some cases serious criminals were released to make way for the rioters but equally those who've said unpleasant things on Facebook and elsewhere on social media.
"Does the Prime Minister understand there is a growing feeling of anger in this country that we are living through two-tier policing and two-tier justice?"
Starmer responded: "'I am angry to be put in a position of having to release people who should be in prison because the last Government broke the prison system.
Nigel Farage question Keir Starmer on two-tier policing
GB News/PMQ's
"The [previous] Prime Minister was repeatedly warned that he had to adopt the scheme that we put in place.
"The former justice minister said if we don't do it, we'll have to get down on our knees and pray.
"The police chiefs made it absolutely clear in a letter to him before the election that he needed to take action, saying that they wouldn't be able to discharge their duties and saying the risk was loss of the ability to detain suspects.
"That means an inability to arrest people committing offences. That's how bad it was.
"They warned the Leader of the Opposition of further delays until after the General Election will increase the risk significantly.
"What did he do? He delayed and increased the risks."
Keir Starmer claimed that he was angry that the previous government forced him to make the move
GB News/PMQS
In total 1,700 prisoners were released yesterday in addition to the around 1,000 inmates that are let out each week.
Hundreds more are due to be freed early next month in the second stage of the scheme.
Over 1,000 prisoners were released from prison yesterday in the latest move by Labour to free up spaces
PAThe move has proven deeply unpopular, with the chief inspector of prisons has warned the move could bring "mayhem" to communities.
Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor told Sky: "That of course, just creates more victims of crime, more mayhem in communities and a prison population that is now almost unmanageable."
Prisoners who have been sentenced for more than four years will not be released under the scheme, but gang members and domestic abusers could be sent hom earlier than planed.