Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have clashed over the justice system and crime at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Sir Keir said there was a record backlog in the court system which meant“violent criminals go free”, while the PM hit back branding the Labour leader “Sir Softy. Soft on crime. Soft on criminals."
Mr Starmer claimed ‘thousands of criminals aren’t in prison” because of “the wrecking ball that the Tories have taken to criminal justice”.
Mr Sunak said: "What's the record since 2010, crime down by 50% under the Conservative Government. 20,000 more police officers, we've given them more powers and we've toughened up sentencing all opposed by Sir Softy over there."
The pair clashed amid a serious setback on the PM’s pledge to halve inflation by the end of the year.
Inflation stayed stuck in double figures of 10.1 per cent in March - down from 10.4 per cent in February - dashing hopes of an early end to the cost of living crisis in a major blow to hard pressed shoppers.
The blow comes as Mr Sunak is being investigated by Parliament’s standards watchdog over a possible failure to declare an interest.
A newly-published list of ministerial interests on Wednesday contained a reference to the childcare agency that Mr Sunak's wife holds shares in, following a row over the Prime Minister’s declarations.
PMQs was held for the first time since the Easter recess.
