Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu in October "totally unacceptable" as the government vowed to act to protect the public from similar errors.

Following the latest news of another prisoner's mistaken release, here's a reminder of what Labour promised:

• A review into how Kebatu's erroneous release occurred. "We will get to the bottom of what happened in this case," Justice Secretary David Lammy pledged
• To find out whether prison staff involved had "sufficient experience, training and technology"
• New procedures involving extra checks in prisons across England and Wales to ensure a repeat didn't occur

Alex Forsyth
Political correspondent

The prime minister’s spokesman said the mistaken release of an Algerian prisoner was “unacceptable” and the circumstances behind it would be “forensically” looked at.

In a briefing with journalists following Prime Minister’s Questions, the spokesman said this case was likely to form part of a review into mistaken releases being led by Dame Lynne Owens.

However when asked repeatedly he was unable to say whether Justice Secretary David Lammy was aware of the prisoner release during PMQs.

The spokesman was also not clear as to whether the prime minister knew, saying the PM was on a plane on the way to the COP summit in Brazil and would be kept updated.

As we've been reporting, a second prisoner has been mistakenly freed by the prison service.

It follows a three-day manhunt for jailed migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu last month, after he was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford.

Government figures show these were not isolated events.

The latest figures show that 262 prisoners in England and Wales were mistakenly released in the year leading up to March 2025, according to the prison service's annual digest.

That's a 128% increase compared to the 115 prisoners released in error in the year ending March 2024.

Of the 262 released by mistake, 233 were from prisons and 29 were released in error by courts.

The prison service says in the report that "releases in error remain infrequent", but adds that the rise is linked to "a range of operational and legislative changes".

Brian Wheeler
Reporting from the House of Commons

A smile of relief from Lammy a little earlier, as the Speaker declined to grant a point of order from James Cartlidge, who stood up at the end of PMQ's points to a news story saying a manhunt is under way for a second prisoner released in error.

Did Lammy know about this, Cartlidge had asked.

That’s now a question for Downing Street, with the PM’s spokesman currently being grilled by journalists in the room just behind the press gallery.

Watch this space.

Image source, Crown Prosecution Service

The accidental release of jailed migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu dominated the debate between Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and his PMQs opponent, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge.

Kebatu was mistakenly released from prison on 24 October. He was serving a sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman while living in an asylum hotel in Epping, Essex.

Kebatu was re-arrested on 26 October in the London suburb of Finsbury Park. The government apologised over his erroneous release and pledged to reinforce the prison system to ensure it wasn't repeated, with an investigation also under way.

The Ethiopian was put on a flight out of the UK on 28 October, but the following day it emerged he was given a £500 payment after threatening to disrupt his deportation.

The revelation was seized upon by the Tories, who accused the government of sending Kebatu home with "pocket money".

PMQs has now ended, but we'll continue to bring you updates on the breaking news story that an Algerian prisoner has been mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth.

Stick with us.

Cartlidge stands for a point of order in the Commons.

As we have just reported, a police manhunt has been launched for an Algerian man mistakenly freed from prison.

He wants to ask Lammy if he was aware of this when he was just asking him about the issue repeatedly as PMQs.

The deputy PM declined to respond when prompted by the Speaker.

In the Commons earlier, the Tories' James Cartlidge repeatedly asked David Lammy whether any other asylum seeker offenders had been released from prison.

Our political editor Chris Mason said it seemed as though Cartlidge was setting up to "reveal" that an offender had indeed been released.

We can now report that a foreign prisoner is on the run after being mistakenly released HMP Wandsworth.

A Met Police spokesperson said: "Shortly after 13:00hrs on Tuesday, 4 November, the Met was informed by the Prison Service that a prisoner had been released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday, 29 October.

"The prisoner is a 24-year-old Algerian man.

"Officers are carrying out urgent enquiries in an effort to locate him and return him to custody."

Brian Wheeler
Reporting from the House of Commons

An ironic thumbs up from Nigel Farage, as Lammy says he is making quite a lot from gold bullion - according to the register of members' interests.

Labour MP Charlotte Nichols mentions the knife attack on a London-bound train, and says the House should praise the actions of the train's driver, and the "heroic" guard who she says is a worthy candidate for consideration for the George Cross.

The driver has said he was just doing his job, she says, and she asks Lammy if he will recognise the importance of railway crews and role they play in keeping people safe.

Lammy says the actions of the driver and guard were "nothing less than heroic". Some form of recognition is absolutely deserved, he says.

He says the government is fighting for such workers.

The SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn also questions Lammy on the upcoming Budget - due on 26 November.

"Can he confirm to the public that if they see anything suspicious on tax at the Budget they should report it," Flynn asks.

Lammy replies: "The SNP will say anything to distract from their appalling record.

"We will see what is in the budget later on this month."

Image source, UK Parliament

There's a question from backbench Labour MP Tristan Osborne on Kent County Council, which is currently led by Reform.

He asks how Lammy will ensure that higher standards are delivered in local government.

Lammy jokes that he sees Clacton MP Nigel Farage in his seat, noting it's "maybe the first time I've seen him" at PMQs.

He says that in local councils, Reform are "delivering on the chaos they promised".

Lammy goes on to condemn the "disgraceful racist language" used by Reform MP Sarah Pochin last week, which he says "belongs in the dark ages".

• As a reminder, Farage said Pochin did not intend to be racist after she complained about adverts being "full" of black and Asian people

Chris Mason
Political editor, at the House of Commons

What an intriguing set of exchanges between David Lammy and James Cartlidge.

Cartlidge’s persistence in asking the same, very specific question repeatedly, and Lammy’s persistent reluctance to address it directly raised a few eyebrows here.

I half expected Cartlidge, in his final question, to tell MPs there was another case of an asylum seeker being released from prison by accident.

But no such example came. We’ll speak to the Ministry of Justice and try to get to the bottom of it.

Image source, UK Parliament

Cooper says families are struggling with a cost-of-living crisis and yet "the chancellor is preparing to increase taxes".

But meanwhile, Cooper says, high interest rates and Treasury rules are seeing big banks making billions in "windfall" profits.

The Lib Dem MP asks Lammy if it is fairer to tax struggling families or big banks.

Lammy says the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition implemented austerity, and says the chancellor will do everything she can to invest in the NHS and public services.

Next up is Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper who first echoes the tributes from Lammy and Cartlidge paid to those affected by the Cambridgeshire stabbings over the weekend.

Turning to her first question, Cooper claims "rights and freedoms are under a threat in a way we have not seen since the Second World War".

She asks Lammy what will it take for the government to act on Vladimir Putin's interference in democracies and to stop Elon Musk "inciting violence on our streets".

Lammy reflects on his previous role as foreign secretary and talks through the national security strategy and the strategic defence strategy.

"They set this country in the best place possible to face down those threats that she refers to," Lammy says.

Chris Mason
Political editor, at the House of Commons

Image source, UK Parliament/PA

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has acquired a poppy mid way through PMQs.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, sitting next to him, attached it to his jacket.

The Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake and Reform Deputy Leader Richard Tice had both pointed out that Lammy wasn’t wearing one.

Brian Wheeler
Reporting from the House of Commons

Image source, UK Parliament

Bit of confusion there, as James Cartlidge thought he had one more question.

He was keen to hit back at David Lammy’s refusal to answer his repeated question about whether any further asylum seekers have been mistakenly released.

Speaker Hoyle initially gave him the nod. But he then appeared to change his mind, saying he was right - Cartlidge had used up all six of his questions.

It was a novice’s error by Cartlidge perhaps, but Lammy will be relieved that the heat is off him.

Cartlidge persists in pressing Lammy to answer the question of whether the government can reassure the House no other asylum-seeking offender has been mistakenly released from prison.

He says the public are rightly concerned about the Kebatu case.

Lammy is animated as he responds, telling Cartlidge that in 25 years he has not witnessed a more "shameful spectacle" than the state the Conservative party left the prison and justice systems in.

Image source, UK Parliament

Amid a noisy chamber, Cartlidge repeats his question to Lammy, "just in case he didn't hear me".

Can he reassure the House that since Kebatu's release, no other asylum seeking offender has been accidentally let out of prison?

Lammy responds that he spent 14 years in opposition, saying he did "a hell of a lot better" than Cartlidge has.

He stresses that he's already answered the question, and reiterates that "prisons were in a mess" under the Tories' watch.

"We've deported more in the last year than they deported in five years," he adds.

Cartlidge repeats his question: Can Lammy reassure the House that since Kebatu was released no other asylum-seeking offender has been accidentally let out of prison?

Lammy tells Cartlidge to "get a grip", and then says an investigation is under way to get to the bottom of what happened.

He says there have been spikes in accidental releases since 2021, under the Tories, and asks Cartlidge when he came to the House to apologise.