Oral Answers to Questions

Rachel Hopkins Excerpts

Wednesday 11th September 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I am angry to be put in the position of having to release people who should be in prison because the last Government broke the prison system. The last Prime Minister was repeatedly warned—he had his own release scheme—that he had to adopt the scheme that we have put in place. The former Justice Secretary said that if they did not do it, they would have to get down on their knees and pray. Police chiefs made it absolutely clear, in a letter to the last Prime Minister before the election, that he needed to take action, saying that they would not be able to discharge their duties and that the risk was a loss of the ability to detain suspects. That means an inability to arrest people committing offences—that is how bad it was. They warned him that further delays until after the general election would increase the risks significantly. What did he do? He delayed and increased the risks.

[Rachel Hopkins (Luton South and South Bedfordshire) (Lab)]

Q8. I welcome the Government’s swift action to bring railways back into public ownership. Great British Railways will deliver much-needed reform, ensuring that the network serves both passengers and rail freight effectively. Will the Prime Minister explain how Labour’s ambitious railway plan will also deliver improvements to rail infrastructure to ensure that my constituents get the service they deserve at Luton station?

[The Prime Minister]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important matter. One of the first Bills we introduced was to reform our railways after 14 years of chaos. Great British Railways will unite track and train under a single leadership. That means closer collaboration across the industry and faster, more effective decisions on critical infrastructure, and I know how vital that will be in relation to both Luton and Leagrave stations in her constituency. We are carefully considering the best approach, but I assure her we are committed to ensuring that our railways will be open to everyone.