Malthouse ‘perplexed and pleased’ by Labour community payback push

In today’s first opposition day debate, MPs are debating community payback that is carried out by criminals through community service.

Shadow justice minister Ellie Reeves called for a stronger stance on community payback, suggesting that the “Conservative government has lost control of crime”, reminding those opposite that the pandemic cannot be blamed as numbers were already rising.

Justice minister Kit Malthouse told MPs that he was “perplexed and pleased to respond”, welcoming the “conversion” in “perhaps happier more Blairite times”. Malthouse explained that “in spite of a huge number of challenges”, operation staff have continued to deliver on projects.