Sir Keir Starmer tells Boris Johnson 'take responsibility' for cuts to criminal justice spending over the last decade

Sir Keir Starmer claimed that cuts to criminal justice spending over the last decade are behind many of the problems the Government is seeking to address with its 10-year drugs strategy.

The Labour leader made the comments after receiving his Covid-19 booster jab at Macey’s vaccination centre in London on Monday.

Asked about the Government’s forthcoming drugs strategy, Sir Keir said: “We need to look at the plans in detail when we see them in detail. But there’s no doubt that the drug problem has got a lot worse in the last 10 years, particularly issues like drug-related deaths and the county lines, which are destroying lives.

“The question for the Government is not just over the plans today but the money that they have taken out of the system – millions and millions of pounds have been taken out of the system over the years and that has caused a lot of the problems.

“So I want to see the plans, I want to see the strategy, I want the Prime Minister to take responsibility for the money that’s been taken out of criminal justice in the last 10 years that’s caused many of these problems.”