Champagne and supercars greet prisoners as 1,750 are released early

LABOUR'S "day of shame" saw criminals released early from prison picked up in supercars, while spraying champagne and calling themselves "lifelong" voters for the party.

- Michael Knowles

Some 1,750 convicts were let out yesterday under emergency measures to ease the overcrowding crisis behind bars.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood revealed some of those released early will end up in taxpayer-funded hotel rooms because they will be homeless.

As the convicts were let out yesterday at various jails, some punched the air with delight, while others popped champagne and hugged family and friends.

Some of the released prisoners were met and taken away in a Lamborghini and a Bentley at Pentonville Prison, North London.

Many couldn't hide their delight Djaber Benallaoua, 20, a convicted drug dealer, said he was going to party and "get lit", adding that the early release scheme had made him a "lifelong Labour voter".

He said: "I thank Labour. Because I've come out five or six months early than I was supposed to, so I'm just happy."

Experts have warned it is almost a "dead certainty" that some criminals will commit more offences.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman said that "public safety will be undermined", branding it a "day of shame" for Sir Keir Starmer's Government.

And Tory leadership frontrunner Robert Jenrick said: "Today is a day of shame for our criminal justice system.