Andy Burnham bars serious sex offenders from early release scheme

Prime minister insists ‘Keeping the public safe is my top priority’ after campaigners raised concerns

Prisoner early release scheme gives Burnham his first taste of unpopularity

After a blitz of small wins, PM is finding that like Keir Starmer there is only so much he can control on the big calls UK politics live – latest updates If Andy Burnham wanted to demonstrate he was the anti-Keir Starmer, the first fortnight could not have gone better. Instead of painting a gloomy picture of tough times and an economic black hole that would only improve with sacrifices such as cutting winter fuel allowance, Burnham’s first week was a blitz of small wins including cutting b...

By Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor

Voices: Poll: Should Andy Burnham’s early prisoner release scheme go ahead?

Andy Burnham has excluded rapists and serious child sex offenders from his early prisoner release scheme, but victims' groups and the opposition say the changes still don't go far enough

By Lauren MacDougall