Boris Johnson vows to end to early prison release with 14-year sentences for terrorists in wake of London Bridge attack

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Boris Johnson has vowed an end to early prison release for terrorists – and minimum sentences of 14 years – in response to fierce criticism of the freeing of the London Bridge attacker. He also risked fresh controversy by blaming the Brexit logjam for the failure to act sooner, claiming: “Due to the broken hung parliament that was preoccupied with blocking Brexit, we could not do more.” Mr Johnson blamed “laws passed in 2008 which established automatic early release” for Khan’s release, when Gordon Brown was the Labour prime minister. “Further, for all terrorism and extremist offences, the sentence announced by the judge must be the time actually served – these criminals must serve every day of their sentence, with no exceptions.” Mr Johnson claimed: “These simple changes, in line with what I’ve been saying since becoming prime minister, would have prevented this attack.” And he said: “What I have seen over the last 24 hours has made me angry – it’s absolutely clear that we can’t carry on with the failed approaches of the past.” The fightback came after a former top prosecutor revealed he personally warned Mr Johnson about the risk posed by freeing terrorists who had not been deradicalised, but was told there was “no money”. Jeremy Corbyn branded the attack he was able to carry out “a complete disaster”, saying: “There has got to be a very full investigation.” The focus switched to efforts made to deradicalise prisoners when Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor for northwest England, intervened by revealing his private conversation with Mr Johnson.