{"id":5007,"date":"2026-08-07T17:55:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T17:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/prisoner-release-row-proving-to-be-burnhams-first-big-test-as-pm\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T17:55:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T17:55:12","slug":"prisoner-release-row-proving-to-be-burnhams-first-big-test-as-pm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/prisoner-release-row-proving-to-be-burnhams-first-big-test-as-pm\/","title":{"rendered":"Prisoner release row proving to be Burnham&#8217;s first big test as PM"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Prisoner release row proving to be Burnham&#8217;s first big test as PM<\/p>\n<div data-block=\"headline\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-usmnse-Spacer e1aon0op0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-1uy5kw5-FullWidthWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-hc6arm-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-wa9guu-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/8cb4\/live\/a31e2ea0-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/8cb4\/live\/a31e2ea0-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/8cb4\/live\/a31e2ea0-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/8cb4\/live\/a31e2ea0-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/8cb4\/live\/a31e2ea0-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/8cb4\/live\/a31e2ea0-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Andy Burnham looking thoughtful against backdrop of a field. He is wearing dark rimmed spectacles\" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/uBMUzX.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/8cb4\/live\/a31e2ea0-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/8cb4\/live\/a31e2ea0-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/8cb4\/live\/a31e2ea0-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/8cb4\/live\/a31e2ea0-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/8cb4\/live\/a31e2ea0-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/8cb4\/live\/a31e2ea0-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg 976w\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2160.28450465707\" class=\"ssrcss-egie1y-Image edrdn950\"><\/picture><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tzgxt7-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\">Reuters<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"byline\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"single-byline\" class=\"ssrcss-sevsa1-ContributorContainer ee66fvo3\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-dt4z-ContributorInfo ee66fvo0\"><span class=\"ssrcss-nsjd43-TextContributorName epw3ir01\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1q14p6q-LinkWithChevronContainer epw3ir02\"><span class=\"byline-link-text\">Damian Grammaticas<\/span><span class=\"ssrcss-ogu97w-IconContainerChevron epw3ir00\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" class=\"ssrcss-xi5oyi-StyledIcon e161cein1\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M21.6 14.3 5.5 31h6.4l14.6-15L11.9 1H5.5l16.1 16.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-dqo7s5-ContributorDetails ee66fvo2\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1m5444d-Text ee66fvo4\">Political correspondent<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"metadata\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"metadata\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-9tw7r1-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10q9h22-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-sf7vdp-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-61mhsj-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\"><time data-testid=\"timestamp\" datetime=\"2026-08-07T15:18:00.182Z\">2 hours ago<\/time><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\"><b class=\"ssrcss-1xjjfut-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">Three weeks into his premiership, Andy Burnham has &#8220;hit bumps in the road&#8221; in the estimation of one long-serving Labour MP with the row over the early release of some prisoners from jail.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">His political opponents are already sharpening their attacks, believing they have found an issue with which to discomfit a new prime minister early in his time in office who had, until now, displayed a pretty deft political touch.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: &#8220;This the most important decision Andy Burnham has made since he became prime minister and he&#8217;s got it wrong.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">For Labour MPs, however, this week has shown Burnham is prepared to confront difficult choices and take decisions which, as he said in his first speech in Downing Street, are &#8220;more about problem solving than point scoring&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Burnham&#8217;s first two weeks in the job were pretty problem free, with a succession of announcements, from a cap on bus fares to a determination to overhaul of social care, along with a blitz of social media videos, all designed to portray a more relaxed PM with a focus on everyday issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The overcrowding crisis in our prisons has presented him with a dilemma for which there are only unpalatable choices. <\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Crucially too, they are some of the first difficult choices Burnham has had to make in office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The issue long predates his arrival in Downing Street. In 2023, with space in jails on the verge of running out, the last Conservative government started releasing prisoners 18 days early. That was only a temporary fix.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Just days after becoming prime minister in July 2024, Sir Keir Starmer had to contemplate a more far-reaching prisoner release scheme, saying &#8220;it is shocking for our country to have got into a state where we have too many prisoners and not enough prison places&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In January this year, Sir Keir&#8217;s government passed the Sentencing Act under which several thousand prisoners will be released early starting this autumn, including some convicted of very serious crimes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-1uy5kw5-FullWidthWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-hc6arm-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-127pw3u-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/d084\/live\/eebe3a80-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/d084\/live\/eebe3a80-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/d084\/live\/eebe3a80-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/d084\/live\/eebe3a80-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/d084\/live\/eebe3a80-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/d084\/live\/eebe3a80-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The entrance to HMP Wandsworth, a stone building resembling a castle, with a low wall in front of it bearing a sign saying &quot;Beware counter-drone operations active in this area&quot; with a drawing of a drone with a red circle around it and a diagonal red line through it\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oAVsm6.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/d084\/live\/eebe3a80-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/d084\/live\/eebe3a80-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/d084\/live\/eebe3a80-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/d084\/live\/eebe3a80-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/d084\/live\/eebe3a80-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/d084\/live\/eebe3a80-9271-11f1-be40-e93959facbbc.jpg 976w\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2160.063711176002\" class=\"ssrcss-egie1y-Image edrdn950\"><\/picture><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tzgxt7-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\">EPA<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Andy Burnham, aware of how sensitive this would be, immediately ordered a review.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">His frustration was evident when he announced he was removing some categories of prisoner from early release, rapists and child sex offenders among them, but not others. <\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;The truth is I wanted to go even further,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I have pushed to the very limits of what is possible to do&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The Conservatives seized on the fact that his decisions mean that among those still being let out early will be some who committed grooming-related crimes as well as some killers, including those of PC Andrew Harper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;The Labour government has made mistake after mistake on this early release scheme,&#8221; said Chris Philp. <\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;Despite our warnings in Parliament, they initially planned to release rapists and dangerous criminals. <\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;But, even after Andy Burnham&#8217;s review, it turns out they still plan to release cop-killers and men involved in the grooming gang scandal early. It&#8217;s an insult to PC Harper&#8217;s family and many other victims.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Up against Sir Keir, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch managed to find issues she could use to force him on to the back foot and into what turned out to be a damaging series of policy shifts. She has seized on the early releases to do try to do the same with his successor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">A first sign of that came when Burnham had to &#8220;personally intervene&#8221; this week, his spokesperson said, to order officials to find out how many people convicted of grooming-related offences might still be getting early release. <\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">That came after Badenoch highlighted the issue in an open letter to him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The Conservatives are now considering how they can keep the pressure up when parliament returns in September. <\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">They will aim to place Labour MPs in an uncomfortable position if the issue can be debated in the Commons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"links\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"ssrcss-1gccci3-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<ul role=\"list\" spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-94r6ik-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<li class=\"ssrcss-qzx51b-LinkItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"ssrcss-1gccci3-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-7zrqh4-LinkHeadline e3eyuya4\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">What&#8217;s behind having to release some prisoners early?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1ulytiq-LinkIconContainer e3eyuya3\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" class=\"ssrcss-xi5oyi-StyledIcon e161cein1\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M21.6 14.3 5.5 31h6.4l14.6-15L11.9 1H5.5l16.1 16.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/div>\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-9tw7r1-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10q9h22-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-sf7vdp-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-61mhsj-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">3 days ago<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-qzx51b-LinkItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"ssrcss-1gccci3-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-7zrqh4-LinkHeadline e3eyuya4\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Officer who led PC Harper investigation &#8216;appalled&#8217; killers could be released early<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1ulytiq-LinkIconContainer e3eyuya3\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" class=\"ssrcss-xi5oyi-StyledIcon e161cein1\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M21.6 14.3 5.5 31h6.4l14.6-15L11.9 1H5.5l16.1 16.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/div>\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-9tw7r1-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10q9h22-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-sf7vdp-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-61mhsj-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">2 hours ago<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-qzx51b-LinkItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"ssrcss-1gccci3-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-7zrqh4-LinkHeadline e3eyuya4\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Burnham orders review of grooming gang early releases<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1ulytiq-LinkIconContainer e3eyuya3\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" class=\"ssrcss-xi5oyi-StyledIcon e161cein1\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M21.6 14.3 5.5 31h6.4l14.6-15L11.9 1H5.5l16.1 16.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/div>\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-9tw7r1-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10q9h22-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-sf7vdp-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-61mhsj-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">1 day ago<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-qzx51b-LinkItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"ssrcss-1gccci3-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-7zrqh4-LinkHeadline e3eyuya4\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Justice secretary apologises to families affected by early release scheme<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1ulytiq-LinkIconContainer e3eyuya3\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" class=\"ssrcss-xi5oyi-StyledIcon e161cein1\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M21.6 14.3 5.5 31h6.4l14.6-15L11.9 1H5.5l16.1 16.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/div>\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-9tw7r1-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10q9h22-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-sf7vdp-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-61mhsj-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">3 days ago<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy has called on the government to introduce &#8220;emergency primary legislation as soon as Parliament returns in September,&#8221; as he says that is the only way to permanently exclude &#8220;killers &#8211; like the killers of PC Harper &#8211; child abusers and grooming gang members from early release&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">For now, Labour MPs are off on their summer breaks. <\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;There is no point in bemoaning what is going on&#8221; one says phlegmatically, &#8220;Andy Burnham&#8217;s inherited this vexed issue that our jails are full, it&#8217;s in the nature of being PM.&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;I have every confidence in him. Over all the years Andy Burnham has never been fearful of speaking to victims directly,&#8221; adds the MP who has served on the justice select committee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But they added: &#8220;We need to have an honest conversation about who we are sending to jail as we don&#8217;t have the spaces to accommodate everyone we are sending.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Another MP, from the left of the party, said Labour members still felt overwhelmingly positive about their new leader despite the row over prisoner releases.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;They don&#8217;t believe he has a magic wand. I don&#8217;t blame him for the overcrowding crisis and I don&#8217;t think voters do&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">And the MP added &#8220;at least we have a recognisably Labour government. It feels like we are in play again, with a second chance to make a difference, maybe even to win a second term&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-1uy5kw5-FullWidthWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-hc6arm-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-xm7t37-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/6133\/live\/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/6133\/live\/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/6133\/live\/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/6133\/live\/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/6133\/live\/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/6133\/live\/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Thin, red banner promoting the Politics Essential newsletter with text saying, \u201cTop political analysis in your inbox every day\u201d. There is also an image of the Houses of Parliament.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/qVnOnC.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/6133\/live\/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/6133\/live\/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/6133\/live\/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/6133\/live\/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/6133\/live\/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/6133\/live\/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png 976w\" width=\"1920\" height=\"316\" class=\"ssrcss-egie1y-Image edrdn950\"><\/picture><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"topicList\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-tcr9z1-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"topic-list\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nj9heb-StyledTagContainer ed0g1kj1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1pfbb52-TopicListHeaderWrapper etw6iwl0\">\n<h2 type=\"normal\" class=\"ssrcss-89o2pv-Heading e10rt3ze0\">Related topics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17ehax8-Cluster e1ihwmse1\">\n<ul role=\"list\" spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-w8zanw-ClusterItems e1ihwmse0\">\n<li>Andy Burnham<\/li>\n<li>UK prisons<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Published at Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:18:00 +0000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prisoner release row proving to be Burnham&#8217;s first big test as PM Reuters Damian Grammaticas Political correspondent 2 hours ago Three weeks into his premiership, Andy Burnham has &#8220;hit bumps in the road&#8221; in the estimation of one long-serving Labour MP with the row over the early release of some prisoners from jail. His political&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/prisoner-release-row-proving-to-be-burnhams-first-big-test-as-pm\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Prisoner release row proving to be Burnham&#8217;s first big test as PM<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk-politics","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5007\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5006"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}