Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy says cancelling or restricting an early release scheme for rapists and other sex offenders could worsen capacity pressures in prisons in England and Wales. In comments reported as part of an investigation into a wider prisons crisis, Lammy argues that opponents of the plan do not provide workable alternatives to prevent the justice system from becoming overloaded. The warning follows political pressure from Labour MPs, including former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, who want to curb early release for some serious offenders. Lammy’s position is that removing the mechanism could leave insufficient space in prisons by November, with the risk of “no capacity” across the jail estate. The discussion also takes place amid broader debate over how the government manages prison demand, with ministers and MPs seeking answers to the reasons behind current pressures and what policy options could address them. Sources describe a dispute between those calling for limits on early release and those arguing that changes must account for operational constraints and overall prison capacity.