PUBLIC ANGER OVER NO WHOLE LIFE SENTENCE FOR SOUTHPORT KILLER IS UNDERSTANDABLE, MINISTER SAYS

PUBLIC anger over the judge’s inability to impose a whole life prison sentence on Southport killer Axel Rudakabana is understandable, a government minister has said.

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook told GB News: “I think all of your viewers will understand what a sickening attack this was, will feel angry at the fact that the sentencing guidelines constrain what the judge can do in this instance.

“And I think the most important thing today, and I think we should lose sight of this, is our thoughts should be with the families, not only of the three young girls who were so horrifically murdered, but with the other families who were affected.

“They are going through a very difficult time today, not least in giving testimony at the court, and our thoughts should be with them, but I can understand the anger that people will feel about those sentencing constraints that are in place.”

Asked about a new report that says one in twelve people in London are illegal migrants, he said: “Well, we actually think those figures that are the basis for that story are out of date.

“There are no accurate figures of the number of illegal migrants in the country, and that is an issue that causes challenges in terms of bearing down on them.

“But again, I say to your viewers, judge us by our actions. We have removed over 16,000 people that have no right to be here in our short period in office, that is a far better record than under the previous government.

“We have seen in this area 14 years of failure. No one disputes that we’ve got to bring down levels of both legal net migration but also illegal migration, and we’re taking steps to do that.

“That is evidenced by the number and level of those deportations to date, and we’ll build on that record.

“Because you’re absolutely right, illegal migration obviously does put pressure on the housing system, not necessarily first, homes to buy or social rented housing, but in many parts of the country, in the private rented sector, of course, it’s a pressure that’s added,

“The way to solve that challenge is to bear down on the number of illegal migrants that are in this country and ensure they’re deported in a timely manner. And that’s precisely what we’re doing.”