Jenrick questions Southport CPS charge

       Robert Jenrick used his first outing as Kemi Badenoch’s new Shadow Justice Secretary to demand answers about the Southport attack and the charging of a suspect by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

       Mr Jenrick, who during the leadership campaign claimed key information about the Southport attacker was withheld from the public, tore into his Labour opponent over a "lack of transparency".

       Last week, suspect Axel Rudakubana was charged with two further offences, including one under the Terrorism Act.

       Last Wednesday, he appeared in court charged with producing a poison, and for possession of an Al-Qaeda training manual.

       On Sunday, The Times claimed the announcement about Rudakubana’s two additional charges was delayed by about two weeks due to fears of fresh riots.

       READ MORE: Southport suspect's terror charge delayed over 'growing fears of riots

       Robert Jenrick used his first outing to question the Justice Secretary on the Southport attack (Image: Parliament Live)

       In the Commons, Mr Jenrick cited Jonathan Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorist laws, who said authorities should put “as much information as they can into the public domain to maintain public trust in terrorist cases which have the highest public interest”.

       Mr Hall added: “In the void, misinformation takes hold and diminishes trust.”

       Mr Jenrick demanded that Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood explain the reported two-week delay between the CPS charging the suspect and it being announced to the general public.

       Ms Mahmood reiterated the Government’s position that it does not comment on live trials. She argued that decisions about charging suspects are made independently by the CPS “who are ultimately deciding what charges to bring”.

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       Mr Jenrick’s criticism of the charging delay last week was also echoed by Nigel Farage, who released a video claiming “perhaps I was right all along”.

       At PMQs last week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer appeared to criticise Mr Jenrick and the Reform UK leader, warning MPs they “can either support the police in their difficult work” or “undermine” it.

       He added: “It is important police and prosecutors are able to do their difficult job.

       "All of us have a choice to make, including those running to be Conservative leader, they can either support the police in their difficult task or they can undermine the police in their difficult task, and I know what side I am on.”