‘Too soft over crime’ Kenneth Clarke set to lose job in reshuffle
KENNETH Clarke is being lined up for a “graceful exit” from the Ministry of Justice following outrage at his soft-touch approach to jail sentences, Whitehall sources indicated yesterday.
Prime Minister David Cameron is believed to be frustrated at the Justice Secretary’s maverick approach to law and order and his determination to lock up fewer offenders.
One Downing Street source said the Tory veteran could be shifted to a less high-profile Cabinet post in an attempt to prevent the coalition from looking weak on crime.
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“Ken has to be reined in before he does any more damage,” said the insider yesterday. One plan is to shift him to Leader of the House in a mini-Cabinet reshuffle next year.
Many Tory MPs were aghast last week when Mr Clarke unveiled a “rehabilitation revolution” in the judicial system.
His plans included wider use of non-custodial “community payback” sentences for all but the most serious offenders. Mr Clarke caused particular annoyance in Downing Street by giving the impression he wanted to scrap minimum sentences for murder and knife crime.
He is understood to have been summoned to Mr Cameron’s office in the Commons to explain the presentation fiasco.
In an embarrassing clarification, the Ministry of Justice had to issue a statement insisting that the minimum sentences were not being abandoned.
But Mr Clarke inflamed the row at the weekend with a characteristically cavalier dismissal of concerns about his jail overhaul.
Asked in an interview about the risks posed by releasing mentally unstable offenders from prison, he said: “You have to explain to the sensible public you can’t give an absolute guarantee.” He added that it was “loopy” to suggest crime could be solved by “locking everyone up”.
