David Lammy has been criticised for dodging a round of TV and radio interviews as pressure mounts over the prisoner release row .

The justice secretary came under fire for refusing to confirm five times at prime minister’s questions that Algerian man Brahim Kaddour-Cherif had been mistakenly let out of Wandsworth Prison.

It came just days after migrant sex offender, Hadush Kebatu, sparked a huge manhunt after he was also accidentally freed.

In a statement issued on Wednesday night, the Ministry of Justice insisted “facts were still emerging” about Kaddour-Cherif’s release when PMQs began.

A spokesperson said: “The deputy prime minister was asked questions about the release of an asylum seeker. As was confirmed after PMQs by the Home Office, the individual was not an asylum seeker.

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