Burnham's first 48 hours as PM implode: Hot mic prison release joke sparks fury

On Wednesday’s episode of The Daily T, Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley discuss the hot mic blunder in which Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, and Wes Streeting, the Defence Secretary, were caught on camera joking about early prison releases.The timing of the incident could not have been worse for Andy Burnham, the new Prime Minister, on day three of his premiership. Anger over the Cabinet members’ poorly placed joke also came within hours of The Telegraph’s report that two of Pc Andrew Harper’s killers were amongst the criminals set to be freed under Labour’s plans to tackle prison overcrowding.As the new PM vows to review the early prisoner release policy, Camilla and Tim examine the fundamental flaws in Labour’s approach to justice.They also discuss how Mr Burnham’s regime can better handle communications crises with Guto Harri, Downing Street’s former head of communications under Boris Johnson.We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorThe Telegraph is the Publisher Podcast Awards' Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026Studio Operator: Meghan SearleProducers: Emma Williams and David LeveneVideo Producer: Will WaltersSocial Producer: Nada AggourExecutive Producer: Charlotte SeligmanEditor: Camilla TomineyHighlightsShabana Mahmood and Wes Streeting apologise after being caught on camera joking about early prison releasesAndy Burnham to review Labour's early prison release policy after The Telegraph reveals two of Pc Harper's killers amongst those being considered to be freed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.