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Andy Burnham has recorded a pooled TV interview this morning.

Asked about the Sentencing Act, and whether he was considering amending the legislation before it came into effect, Burnham just insisted that the pause in the process he announced last week was “real” and that further statements would be made in due course.

The pause is real, and it was one of the first things I did coming into office last week. So the September releases [are] on hold.

And … the review that I have instigated is also a real process. We are taking a very serious look at the situation.

The Conservatives have been campaigning against the early release of violent and sexual offenders since Labour decided to do this in 2024 and we welcome the prime minister’s U-turn. But the prime minister’s review, or as he is now calling it a “brief pause”, has changed nothing in law – without legislation violent and sexual offenders will be released on 2 September. Given parliament is only scheduled to return on 1 September, Conservatives will back fast-tracked emergency legislation.

Sex offenders, including rapists and the evil rape gang perpetrators, should remain behind bars where they belong, but Labour want to let them back on the street. To make matters worse, many victims have not been properly informed about the release of their abusers.