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Inmates were nearing end of sentence and were taking part in 'work experience'

‘Well, they didn’t have anything else on’: Jacqui Smith defends use of two prisoners drafted in to paint her £450,000 home


Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has defended her use of two day-release prisoners to paint her £450,000 home when they should have been doing community work. 

Prison bosses have now launched an investigation into how the pair, who were working for free as part of a back-to-work scheme and were meant to be improving parks and clearing up rubbish-strewn streams, instead ended up spending two days redecorating a room in Miss Smith’s house last month.

Speaking on an LBC radio programme, she was guest presenting, Miss Smith said she wanted 'to set the record a little bit straight' and insisted the prisoners 'didn't have anything else on'.

It also emerged that, as payment for the work, Miss Smith donated an unspecified amount to a local charity which organised the project, the Batchley Support Group. 

Miss Smith stepped down from her Cabinet role weeks after it was revealed she billed the taxpayer for the £67 cost of hiring two adult movies watched by her husband, as part of her expenses.

 




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