Nigel Farage has slammed Sadiq Khan for calling for free housing “for criminals and illegal migrants” in a new twist in Labour’s early release row.
In a scathing attack on the mayor of London, the Reform UK leader wrote on social media: “Sadiq Khan wants free housing for criminals and illegal migrants… And he wants you to pay for it all.”
His message came in response to Khan suggesting that newly-released prisoners should skip the housing queue to discourage them from reoffending.
There is a need for “some prisoners to jump in the queue to get housing to avoid them reoffending again”, he told The Times’s Crime and Justice Commission – a year-long inquiry slated to “consider the future of policing and the criminal justice system” in Britain.
Sadiq Khan wants free housing for criminals and illegal migrants. And he wants you to pay for it all.
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) September 12, 2024
Nigel Farage slammed Sadiq Khan on social media
GETTY
But the mayor’s comments came despite him earlier claiming “there is a big shortage of housing in London”.
The statement comes after more than 1,700 prisoners were set free en masse on Tuesday after serving only 40 per cent of their sentences.
The release is part of a scheme by the government to free up to 5,500 spaces in prisons by releasing convicts early, in a Ministry of Justice move to combat overcrowding across the country.
Fears of “mayhem” have been sparked by an insurgence of loose criminals not being provided housing, leading to a cycle of homelessness and reoffending – and provoked Khan’s statement.
LATEST ON SADIQ KHAN:
The mayor’s comments came despite him earlier claiming “there is a big shortage of housing in London”
PA
HMP Chief Inspector Charlie Taylor had said this week it was “inevitable” that many inmates released under the scheme will return to prison due to a lack of housing.
His comments were made after an inspection by his team at HMP Bedford found some 30 per cent of prisoners were released into immediate homelessness.
One prisoner released on Tuesday even said he would “rather have stayed in”, fearing he would return to a life on the streets, adding that he had a “warm cell, television, kettle and three meals a day” while he was inside.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced on Tuesday that she had authorised probation directors to use budget hotels to house prisoners if enough temporary housing could not be found.
Tom Tugendhat and Robert Jenrick hit out at Labour after Farage’s comments
PA
But some weren’t pleased with Khan’s comments, echoing Farage’s criticism.
Conservative leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said: “Labour: Putting Decent People Last”
While rival Tory contender Tom Tugendhat wrote: “Let me get this straight… Labour have released prisoners onto our streets. Sadiq Khan has given them priority for housing, while the Government have lowered the housing targets he keeps missing.
“When does Keir Starmer plan to start serving the British people?”
The Mayor of London’s office told GB News: “Sadiq is not suggesting prisoners should skip the queue for permanent housing – and clearly London families in need must be prioritised for council homes in the capital.
“However, he believes that in a small number of cases where a former prisoner would be sleeping on the streets, they should be helped to find temporary accommodation in order to keep them from becoming homeless, prevent reoffending and keep Londoners safe.”
