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London: A clumsy joke has backfired on cabinet ministers soon after they were named to their posts by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, just as he vowed to set a new tone and direction for the government upon taking power this week.
The ministers were caught on video trading jokes about the early release of prisoners in a light-hearted conversation in London, but their banter provoked swift criticism when the video was leaked on social media.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Defence Secretary Wes Streeting apologised for the gaffes after their opponents accused them of making light of a prison scandal that has outraged critics who do not want criminals released early.
It also cast a cloud over Burnham’s attempts to win support from voters in his first days in office, starting with decisions to cut taxes on household electricity bills and reduce bus fares.
Burnham has rewarded allies in a cabinet reshuffle that has removed some of the ministers who were closest to his predecessor, Keir Starmer, in moves that have cheered the new leader’s supporters on the progressive side of the Labour Party.
The video appeared to be news footage taken from a distance, with audio from a boom microphone, while ministers spoke after they were confirmed in their posts, apparently unaware their words could be recorded.
Streeting was speaking with Mahmood and the new Justice Secretary, Alex Norris, when he made a remark about prisoner release.
Streeting suggested to Mahmood that Norris was “the enemy” and wanted to “let them all out” – an apparent reference to the Justice Secretary’s role in the early release of prisoners.
Mahmood replied: “No, he’s not.” The three laughed at the quip.
While they did not make light of a serious case of early prisoner release, the social media video sparked criticism from Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who pointed to headlines on Wednesday about convicted killers being released early.
“Yesterday Cabinet ministers were joking about letting criminals out of jail early,” she said on Wednesday morning (about 6.30pm, AEST).
“Burnham has already said he doesn’t think rapists and paedophiles should be out early. I sincerely hope that extends to the killers of emergency workers.”
Badenoch cited the news that the two prisoners, who killed police constable Andrew Harper seven years ago, could be set free under the Labour early-release policy to ease overcrowding in prisons.
Within hours, Burnham responded by asking the justice secretary to review the case and telling the media that the main perpetrator would not be subject to any early release.
Streeting apologised on X for the remark and said he had been referring to a similar joke shared by Conservative ministers when former prime minister Theresa May talked about prison release with former minister Kenneth Clarke.
“I hope everyone can see there was no ill intent behind this ribbing of the new Justice Secretary,” he said.
“But I appreciate these are very serious issues and am sorry for any offence inadvertently caused by this moment of levity.”
Streeting posted a news story with the remark by May as prime minister in 2017 when she joked about Clarke in the House of Commons. “When I was Home Secretary and he was Justice Secretary, I used to say that I locked ’em up and he let ’em out,” she told the House.
Mahmood also apologised and blamed the Conservatives for the challenges in the justice system.
The video embarrassed the government just as ministers celebrated their appointments after Burnham sacked ministers loyal to Starmer, highlighting the personal divides within Labour.
Burnham removed David Lammy, who was justice secretary and deputy prime minister, and Rachel Reeves, who was chancellor of the exchequer.
Promotions were awarded to those who helped bring Starmer down. The new chancellor of the exchequer, John Healey, quit as defence secretary on June 11 over a dispute about funding the military. This rocked the government one week before Burnham won a by-election that returned him to parliament and cleared the way for him to challenge Starmer.
The new energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, quit the ministry on May 12 along with several others who wanted Starmer to step down. She entered parliament in 2024 and now has one of the most challenging portfolios in the government.
Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister and housing minister, returns to her old portfolio, but not the deputy’s position. She stepped down last September due to criticism of her tax arrangements, creating a rift with Starmer that led her to support Burnham.
In a key cabinet appointment, Louise Haigh becomes first secretary of state and the “enforcer” for Burnham’s policies. She was a member of Starmer’s first ministry but had to quit in November 2024 when the media reported a 2013 incident in which she wrongly claimed her phone had been stolen.
Streeting quit as health secretary on May 14, in one of the biggest moves to undermine confidence in Starmer and his administration.
The new foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, was previously energy secretary and was reported to have clashed with Starmer in a cabinet debate over the Iran war. The Spectator reported in early March that Miliband was critical of letting US forces use UK bases.
Burnham is also preparing to elevate Anas Sarwar, the head of the Labour Party in Scotland, to the House of Lords so he could take up a position in the national government. Sarwar called on Starmer to resign during a press conference widely televised on March 24, weeks out from elections for the Scottish parliament. Labour lost those elections to the Scottish National Party.
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