Martin Shipton A Welshman who spent 11 years in jail for a murder he didn’t commit says he is “shocked and appalled” that UK Labour Ministers have decided that he and other miscarriage of justice victims should make “bed and board” payments towards the cost of their imprisonment. Michael O’Brien and two other men were […]
  • mannycalavera@feddit.uk
    93·
    3 months ago

    What the fuck world are we living in when the Tories are saying this is unfair and shouldn’t happen but Labour are pressing ahead with it?

    However, the then Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was said to hold the view that those who had been wrongly convicted should not have to pay living expenses for the time they spent in jail, on the basis that the practice is unfair. Mr Sunak’s press secretary told journalists last year: “In principle, for someone who has been wrongfully convicted, it doesn’t seem fair that they would have to repay or reimburse costs.”

    Former Tory Justice Secretary Robert Buckland described Mr Malkinson’s case as “egregious” and suggested he should get special consideration.

    “What happened to Mr Malkinson is a dreadful set of circumstances and it doesn’t sound right that he’d have to pay for bed and boarding costs,” he said

    • thetreesaysbark@sh.itjust.works
      17·
      3 months ago

      Now, however, recently appointed Labour Ministers including Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood have decided to save money by not reimbursing the likes of Mr O’Brien for “bed and board” payments deducted from their compensation years ago.

      The Tories were the party in power when the bed and board payment was originally applied for this person, and now they’re blaming labour? Standard tory misdirection tactics then. Maybe one day they’ll buy a mirror and work out what self reflection is, but I doubt it.

      Similar to another comment here, The ex-prisoner has asked the now government to reimburse them, which they’ve declined. Yeah that sucks but the country can’t afford to fix all the shitty decisions that have been made whilst the last government was in power.

      • mannycalavera@feddit.uk
        13·
        3 months ago

        I don’t want to argue with you that the Tories were bad in office. They were. 🤣. But it seems to me from the article that Sunak (even when he was in power) was against this. As were other Tories. Check out the quote I pasted.

        Yeah that sucks but the country can’t afford to fix all the shitty decisions that have been made whilst the last government was in power.

        Yeah I get that but then surely some token of apology should be forthcoming? What has happened to these people is awful and should be put right.

        • thetreesaysbark@sh.itjust.works
          3·
          3 months ago

          Yeah I agree with you that it should be put right. I’m just not sure if it can be at this moment in time.

          It just seems rich of the article author to write that Sunak would say it’s wrong, do nothing about it whilst in power, but that’s okay because he says it’s wrong, whilst labour are somehow worse for also not doing any about it? I had trouble wording that sentence but I hope you get the jist.

          Feels like no ruling government would resolve this with the countries current finances, but that the current opposition and the writer of this article just are enjoying stirring the pot.

        • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
          31·
          3 months ago

          But it seems to me from the article that Sunak (even when he was in power) was against this.

          Well he sure did say that I’ll grant you that. He definitely said it but he did absolutely nothing to correct the issue. So he is “sorry” had happened, just not enough to do literally anything about it.

          So he doesn’t care then.