Nigel Farage has blamed ‘political correctness’ for the release from prison of Usman Khan, who went on to commit the London Bridge terror attack.
In the ITV seven-way election debate, the Brexit Party leader said people convicted of plotting mass murder should never be released from prison unless it was clear they did not have the ‘jihadi virus’.
He said: ‘Nobody apologises for the fact that the liberal elite have given us a ridiculous sentencing system.
‘I don’t care if you were in prison for six years or 12 years. If you have committed mass murder or planned to commit mass murder you are not just an ordinary criminal you have got the virus of jihadi-ism.
‘I think these people should never ever be let out prison unless we are absolutely convinced they do not have the jihadi virus. But political correctness stops us from doing that.’
The Brexit Party leader said whether the convicted terrorist was serving ‘six years or eight years he should never have been let out’. Left to right: Labour Party’s Richard Burgon, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, Conservative Rishi Sunak, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price, Green Party’s Sian Berry and Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson
Mr Farage (left) said: ‘I don’t care if you were in prison for six years or 12 years. If you have committed mass murder or planned to commit mass murder you are not just an ordinary criminal you have got the virus of jihadi-ism.’ Representing the Tories in the debate, Treasury Chief Secretary Rishi Sunak said Usman Khan had been released as result of changes brought in by the Last Labour government
Khan had been released from prison last December despite being caged for terror offences in 2012.
Today the second victim of the London Bridge terror attack was named as another young Cambridge University graduate.
Saskia Jones, 23, of Stratford-upon-Avon, died alongside Jack Merritt, 25, of Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, after Khan, 28, went on a deadly knife frenzy in London on Friday.
Saskia Jones, 23, (pictured) of Stratford-upon-Avon, died alongside Jack Merritt, 25, of Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, after Usman Khan went on a stabbing frenzy in London on Friday
Representing the Tories in the debate, Treasury Chief Secretary Rishi Sunak said Khan had been freed as a result of changes brought in by the last Labour government.
‘He was released due to a law passed in 2008 under the last Labour government where people were released automatically halfway through their sentence.’ he said.
‘We changed that law in 2012 and if he had been sentenced under our rules he would still be in jail.’
For Labour, shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon said it was ‘not true’ the only option at the time was automatic release of Khan halfway of through his sentence.
‘People don’t want history lessons after this terrorist atrocity. What people want is to put victims first and put keeping communities safe first,’ he said.
Jack Merritt (left), 25, of Cottenham, Cambridge, was the first victim to be named. He died after being stabbed by Usman Khan (right)
Elsewhere in the debate Mr Farage said it was a ‘great mistake’ for politicians in Britain to demonise Donald Trump despite acknowledging some of the President’s comments about grabbing women were ‘wrong’.
‘It was crass and it was crude and it was wrong – men say dreadful things sometimes. If all of us were called out for what we did on a night out after a drink, none of us would …’ he said.
But he was interrupted by Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson who said: ‘Is that what you do on a night out after a drink?’
Mr Farage replied: ‘He is president of the USA and that relationship matters. You are so anti-American you are prepared to put your hatred of Trump above our national interest. That is a great mistake.’
Elsewhere in the debate Mr Farage (left) said it was a ‘great mistake’ for politicians in Britain to demonise Donald Trump despite acknowledging some of Mr Trump’s comments about grabbing women were ‘wrong’
But he was interrupted by Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson (right) who said: ‘Is that what you do on a night out after a drink?’
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of modelling himself on Mr Trump.
She said: ‘That in my view is not what the UK or any part of it needs. Donald Trump’s attitudes are wrong and they are dangerous. In Boris Johnson, we have got somebody who is trying to be like him.’
Mr Sunak said: ‘The relationship we have with America is incredibly important for keeping us safe. That is not something to turn your nose up at.’
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said Mr Farage was wrong to defend the US president.
‘It can never be acceptable for a man to talk about grabbing a woman’s p***y. If you think it is you should be ashamed,’ he said.
And Mr Burgon added: ‘Our quarrel and difference is with some of the policies of Donald Trump, who like Boris Johnson is a politician who has given the green light to sexism, homophobia and racism – and that cannot be allowed to flourish.’
