Boris Johnson has been accused of twisting the facts of the London Bridge terror attack in a “distasteful” attempt to turn it into an election issue, as he tried to blame Labour for the release of the terrorist who stabbed two people to death.
The prime minister faces claims he has ignored pleas from victim Jack Merritt’s father, who on Saturday paid tribute to his “beautiful, talented boy” and asked politicians not to use the “terrible, isolated incident” to justify more “draconian” measures.
Cambridge graduate Jack, 25, was fatally stabbed by convicted terrorist Usman Khan while working as a co-coordinator for a conference on prisoner rehabilitation hosted by the Learning Together scheme at Fishmongers’ Hall near London Bridge. Cambridge student Saskia Jones, 23, was also killed.
David Merritt said his son died “doing what he loved”, but appealed for his death not to be used to justify introducing “even more draconian sentences” on offenders.
A family statement said: “We know Jack would not want this terrible, isolated incident to be used as a pretext by the government for introducing even more draconian sentences on prisoners, or for detaining people in prison for longer than necessary.”
