Barnaby Webber's mother backs 35 families demanding all killers be barred from Labour's early release scheme

Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby, who was stabbed to death by Valdo Calocane in Nottingham in 2023, has added her name to a letter signed by more than 35 bereaved families urging the government to exclude all manslaughter convictions from its early release scheme. Families told Justice Secretary Alex Norris that victims are 'being asked to bear the consequences of the prison capacity crisis'. The letter follows PM Andy Burnham's decision to exempt only 'unlawful act' manslaughter — the category covering PC Andrew Harper's killers — leaving other forms of manslaughter still eligible for early release. Without further changes, around 5,000 prisoners remain set to be freed early.

BBC racing commentator John Hunt, who lost his wife Carol and daughters Hannah and Louise in a crossbow attack, is among the signatories.

The government faces a separate row after officials were reportedly considering letting criminals out after serving only one sixth of their sentence under extended home detention curfews.

Bridget Phillipson defended the scheme on Radio 4, saying Labour had faced 'some really difficult and unpalatable choices' amid the 'wholesale collapse of the criminal justice system'.