25 January 2023 , 13:22
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Keir Starmer has told Rishi Sunak the probation service is "on its knees" in the wake of Zara Aleena’s murder.
The Labour leader slammed "systemic failures" after a report found probation staff missed a “catalogue of chances” to stop a man with a history of violence murdering the 35-year-old law graduate.
Mr Starmer was expected to lead his address in Prime Minister’s Questions with questions about Tory Chairman Nadhim Zahawi who is embroiled in a row over his tax affairs.
But he instead focused his opening remarks on a tribute to Ms Aleena.
Mr Starmer described failings in the probation service as a result of "a botched-then-reversed privatisation, after a decade of underinvestment" by the Government.
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He added: "It's yet another vital public service on its knees after 13 years of Tory government."
Zara's aunt Farah Naz said prosecutors have 'blood on their hands' (PA)Mr Starmer told the Prime Minister: "I spoke to Zara's family this morning. It is hard to convey to this House the agony that they have been through. They say that the Government has blood on their hands over these failings.
"He's accepted the findings of the report, does he also accept what Zara's family say?"
Mr Sunak replied that his "heart of course goes out to Zara's family", adding that the Government had made moves to address staff shortages and other issues in the probation service.
The Prime Minister said £155million was being invested into the probation service each year “so that we can deliver better supervision of offenders”.
He added: "If we do want to increase the safety of women and girls out on our streets then we need tough sentencing, and that is why this Government passed the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, which he opposite and his party opposed."
But Mr Starmer blasted the Prime Minister for “boasting” about the “protection that he’s been putting in place for women”.
He added: “I’m not going to take lectures from him about that.”
Jordan McSweeney, 29, was wrongly considered medium risk by the private firm monitoring him despite the killer warning staff his anger scared him.
He attacked Ms Aleena in June 2022, nine days after his release on licence from prison.
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The Labour Leader later went on to blast Mr Sunak over Mr Zahawi, who is to be investigated over a £5million tax penalty he paid to HMRC.
Mr Starmer ridiculed the "hopelessly weak" Prime Minister the Cabinet Minister.
Mocking the 5ft 7in Prime Minister, the leader asked him whether is starting to wonder whether the role in No10 "is too big for him".
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