Sadiq Khan was welcomed on to Good Morning Britain by Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid to discuss the recent London Bridge terror attack. Last Friday convicted terrorist Usman Khan killed Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones despite being jailed over a plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange. On the ITV show, host Morgan and Mr Khan clashed over the Mayor of London’s views on life sentences.
In February 2012, Usman Khan was handed an indeterminate jail sentence over a terror plot.
The sentencing judge declared he should not be released until he was no longer a threat to the public.
However imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences were scrapped in 2012.
Usman Khan’s sentence was quashed at the Court of Appeal in April 2013 where he was given a 16 year jail term.
Subsequently he was released from prison in December 2018 on license having served just half of his sentence.
During the Mayor of London’s appearance on Good Morning Britain, Morgan quizzed him on his views on handing out life sentences to convicted terrorists.
Morgan noted Merritt’s father has spoken out on the need “not to use his death” to promote “tougher sentencing”.
However he added members of the public find it “inexplicable” a convicted Al-Qaeda terrorist was released.
Morgan asked Khan: “Was it wrong to release him?”
Khan explained he voted against the removal of IPP sentences and vented his “frustration” at what he said was “half the story” that’s being told.
“The facts are judges used to have this power…but this government removed IPP sentences to reduce prison numbers to save money,” Khan said.
Interrupting Khan’s explanation, Morgan asked: “Should he have been released?”
Morgan continued: “Dominic Raab said yesterday for something that I’ve been calling for.
“We have 74 prisoners in this country who are on whole life tariffs, they don’t get out whether it’s the Yorkshire ripper, the killers of Lee Rigby, whoever it may be, they’re deemed so dangerous that we don’t ever let them out.
“Yet we have 74 convicted jihadi terrorists who are now wandering the streets, many in your city and I don’t understand why because aren’t they very likely to do what we’ve seen with Usman Khan.”
“Firstly, how did Dominic Raab vote in 2012 where he abolished IPPs, number one and number two I believe judges should have the power to impose indeterminate sentences to protect the public.
“Sometimes judges can’t have a charge of terrorism on the person and they’re convicted of other offences…”
“Usman Khan pled guilty to wanting to create terror camps…” Morgan hit back.
“He should have received an indeterminate sentence,” Khan said.
“But shouldn’t he have received a whole life sentence?” Morgan asked.
“That’s what it means…,” Khan hit back to which Morgan said: “No it doesn’t…I think you’re wrong.”
“Well let me finish my sentence, I’m pausing to breath Piers not because end of sentence,” the Mayor remarked.
Finally after further debate, Khan lamented: “I think judges should have the tool in their tool kit to hand out indeterminate sentences and…to give life sentences, I agree.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV at 6am.
