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A justice minister has defended David Lammy after he admitted he took time to buy a new suit prior to his first appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions.

News of an Algerian convicted sex offender being mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth broke as the Deputy Prime Minister stood in for Sir Keir Starmer at the weekly session in the Commons.

Reports suggest Mr Lammy, who is also the Justice Secretary, was briefed on Brahim Kaddour-Cherif’s release on Tuesday night, and he had prepared to address it on Wednesday, but did not.

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick

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