The TV star first joined the show back in 2009, but in December, she will leave to take up a new role as co-presenter of 5 Live Breakfast in 2027.

Ms Munchetty said: “I’m thrilled to be joining 5 Live Breakfast in January.

“Live news, great conversations, and connecting with audiences are what I love most about broadcasting, and 5 Live does all of that brilliantly.

“Presenting a flagship programme on 5 Live is an opportunity that was simply too good to pass up.

“It will take a huge amount of work and require 100% of my focus and energy, and I’m really looking forward to throwing myself into the role.”

Her appointment follows the announcement that current 5 Live Breakfast hosts, Rick Edwards and Rachel Burden, will step down in December.

Ms Burden will move to a new mid-morning show on the station, while Mr Edwards will continue to present Fighting Talk and remain part of 5 Live’s broader programming.

Ms Munchetty has hosted 5 Live’s mid-morning show since 2021 and will now bring her trademark style to the breakfast slot, joined by a yet-to-be-named co-host.

Heidi Dawson, controller of BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “Naga is one of the UK’s most accomplished broadcasters and a hugely valued member of the 5 Live family.

“Since joining the station, she has led thoughtful and impactful conversations on everything from breaking news to women’s health, sport and social issues, building a strong connection with our listeners.”

She also paid tribute to Ms Burden’s long tenure on the breakfast show.

She said: “Rachel has been a huge voice on 5 Live Breakfast for many years, bringing wit, intelligence, and sharp journalism to the programme every morning.

“She has a remarkable ability to connect with listeners, whether she’s handling breaking news, conducting thoughtful interviews, or sharing the moments that bring us together.”

Ms Dawson recognised the success of the Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards partnership.

She said: “Together, Rachel and Rick have formed one of radio’s most popular partnerships.

“They have informed, entertained and accompanied millions each morning, and their chemistry, professionalism and commitment have played a huge role in shaping 5 Live Breakfast in recent years.”

Ms Burden, who has spent 15 years on the show, said she was looking forward to her new role.

She said: “After 15 years hosting 5 Live Breakfast, I’ve decided it’s time for a change – and I’m really excited about launching my new show on the station.

“It’s been an absolute joy and privilege to be part of our listeners’ mornings for all these years.”

Mr Edwards said he would miss the show, particularly working with Ms Burden.

He said: “I’ll really miss our wonderful audience, I’ll miss the fantastic team, I’ll miss regularly eating cake before dawn, but most of all I’ll miss Rach – a colleague who has become a friend, and also a mentor, because she’s so much older than me.

“Two things I am, of course, looking forward to are not waking up at 3.45am, and vaping without fear of violent recrimination.”

Ms Munchetty will present 5 Live Breakfast from January 2027, with further details, including her co-host, to be announced later.

John McAndrew, director of live and daily news at the BBC, said Ms Munchetty would be missed on BBC Breakfast.

He said: “After more than a decade on screen for BBC Breakfast, Naga will be hugely missed by the millions of viewers who’ve welcomed her into their homes each week.”

The pathway from Northern Ireland’s villages and towns to top level cricket is not a straightforward route, but Carson hopes his journey can become an inspiration to others, even just as supporter

Rising cricket star Jack Carson admits the Northern Ireland ‘chip on the shoulder’ has helped him get to where he is today.

The 25-year-old Craigavon man has emerged as one of Sussex’s star men, having made his debut back in 2020 in the Bob Willis Trophy.

He finished that summer as the team’s leading wicket taker and was then back to back leading bowler in 2020 and 2021.

Carson his his first century in May 2025 and this May he produced a remarkable 105 rescue act against Surrey when Sussex were 92-7.

Having been awarded his county cap two years ago, Carson has taken on the Sussex captaincy for the Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign.

They take on Essex on Wednesday (July 29) at Arundel and Carson believes the Northern Ireland underdog mentality has helped him battle his way up the ranks.

“I guess being Northern Irish, we always felt like a bit of a chip on the shoulder, the underdog mentality,” Carson said.

“That’s reflected in how I’ve gone about the game a bit, always trying to be effective in any situation and combative – and that’s probably linked to how I grew up. I played men’s cricket from a young age and had to find ways to be competitive. I’m very proud of my roots,” added the Waringstown native.

“I grew up about 10 metres from the boundary edge of my local cricket club, just beyond the hedges. I was around cricket from an early age, had brothers playing. My dad and my granddad were both heavily involved in cricket.

“I loved the sport and loved trying to get better and my dad was very supportive in that – probably the amount of balls he threw to me between the ages of about eight and 16, I’m surprised he probably hasn’t had to have a shoulder replacement in his 60s now. The sidearm was a great invention for him in that regard, it eased his load a bit! I represented Ireland at under-15 level.

When I grew up, the Irish men’s cricket team was pretty much effectively amateur, but there was quite a few players who made their living in county cricket. And that was what I wanted to do. I wanted to play effectively in county cricket. Like an Ed Joyce or a William Porterfield or a Boyd Rankin and people like that. That was a goal.

“The pathway now, with Test match cricket in Ireland, Irish kids will grow up watching Ireland be a professional men’s team and playing for Ireland will be the end-end goal, which is different from when I grew up.”

The pathway from Northern Ireland’s villages and towns to top level cricket is not a straightforward route, but Carson hopes his journey can become an inspiration to others, even just as supporters

“Hopefully with me becoming a captain in county cricket, we can have extra Sussex fans in Northern Ireland,” he said.

“One of my frustrations when I left was that a lot of the infrastructure and funding and things that were in the pipeline to come into Irish cricket were very Dublin-based.

“The hunger and passion for sport where I grew up is massive and whether it’s rugby, football, cricket, there’s definitely a lot of potential for sports people to come out of those areas.

“It would be awesome if now Sussex and county cricket can reach into Northern Ireland and spike an interest. I’d absolutely love for a kid to wear a Sussex shirt in my village in Northern Ireland.”

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Evolution is a fact of life. So much so that even the theory of evolution is evolving. Lately, a centuries-old discredited idea has been making a strong comeback. It helps us explain scientific observations that according to standard evolutionary theory should be impossible.

I’m referring to Lamarckism, named after theoretical proposals from French biologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1809. Lamarckism stands for the hypothesis that parents of a given organism may acquire or improve certain characteristics during their lifetimes in response to the demands of their environment. And they then somehow transmit those characteristics to their offspring, making those better able to cope with the same demands too.

Lamarck sought to explain why organisms and their environments fit so well together, and how organisms change over time, as observed in the fossil record. Of course, an alternative explanation was provided by Charles Darwin (and others) half a century later. Darwin’s ideas were built around natural selection, which says that some individuals within a species are born with differences that lead them to perform better and therefore reproduce more than others.

Darwin argued that if these differences can be passed from parent to offspring, the next generation will contain relatively more of these higher performing individuals. In other words, the next generation will have a greater fit with their environment.

Over time, Lamarck’s idea was discredited. A key moment was an experiment performed by Germany’s August Weismann in 1904. He surgically removed the tails of adult rats before allowing them to reproduce, expecting to see this change inherited by their offspring. But it never happened, despite him removing the tails of many generations of rats. Lamarckism as understood then would have predicted that the offspring should have been born with no tails, so for many years biology textbooks presented his theory as a firmly refuted hypothesis.

Where Darwinism falls short

Lamarck’s ideas weren’t entirely wrong, however. Take, for example, the small worm C. elegans. When an adult worm is exposed to external stimuli such as viral or bacterial infections, starvation, or stressful temperatures, it can adapt to cope better over time. And, surprisingly, its subsequent offspring also cope better from the moment they are born – as do successive generations.

It turns out that this occurs via the inheritance of DNA-like molecules called small RNAs (ribonucleic acids). When adult worms experience stress, they produce these RNAs to fine-tune the activity of their genes to mount an effective response. When the worms reproduce, specific proteins transfer these small RNAs to their eggs, meaning the offspring are born with the benefits they provide.

This is like a person receiving a vaccine against flu or measles, developing immunity in response, and then all their newly born children and even grandchildren being immune too. It was previously thought that these kinds of epigenetic molecular marks were always erased during reproduction, meaning offspring have to start their own response from scratch. The fact that acquired traits can actually be inherited is clearly Lamarckism in practice.

It’s also far from unique. There are now dozens if not hundreds of studies showing similar effects in all sorts of species, from bacteria and plants to animals. When rice plants are exposed to cold, for instance, they develop a seemingly permanent resistance by adding chemical tags to their genes. This has enabled them to spread northward from their tropical origins.

Beyond epigenetics, the passing down of learned skills from one generation to another is also a form of Lamarckism. When killer whale mothers acquire the skill to hunt a different type of prey – for example, seals instead of salmon – this skill is copied by their offspring. This has been so reliable across generations and so profound that it even seems to have caused the formation of different species of killer whale.

Does this mean Darwinism is wrong? No, it doesn´t. Natural selection still accurately explains evolutionary processes a large proportion of the time. But as I argue in my new book, The Selective Organism: an Expanded Theory of Adaptive Evolution, we could see Lamarckian acquisition of traits as a second driver of evolution, acting alongside natural selection.

Whereas in Darwinian evolution individuals in a species are a target of natural selection, in which their traits are tested by their environment, in Lamarckian evolution they’re an agent of selection, developing certain traits out of a larger set of potential ones. For instance, the C. elegans worm could potentially produce a number of different RNA molecules (or none). Based on its environment, it selects molecules that help it to survive. In that sense, Lamarckian acquisition can be seen as a form of selection too.

How the theories combine

In my book I also make another argument. When an individual plant or animal is able to transmit acquired beneficial traits to its offspring as per Lamarckism, this should increase the offspring’s chances of survival and subsequent reproduction.

If so, this capacity should also be favoured by natural selection. In other words, Darwinism actually predicts that this Lamarckian capacity should evolve. This means that these are not competing theories but compatible ones, which together provide the best explanation for the evolutionary change of organisms.

Evolution by natural selection has been called “the single best idea anyone has ever had”. Besides explaining the natural world, it has found tremendous application in other areas. It has helped us improve how we breed plants and animals, for instance, and how we combat the evolution of antibiotic resistance in microbes.

The Lamarckian dimension should only further improve these applications. If the exposure of organisms to particular soil, climate, parasites or predators can benefit their offspring, there may be new ways to improve agricultural production. The same goes for conservation: scientists in Australia are already exposing coral to heat stress in the laboratory to trigger epigenetic responses that make them more resilient to heatwaves.

And if human parental behaviours can influence obesity or addiction in their children, then prevention programmes help not only the people that receive them but also future generations.

So after more than 200 years it is time to embrace Lamarckism again, and include it into an updated and improved version of standard evolutionary theory.

The Northumberland campaign was launched by alternative education provider Maximize Education, led by CEO Christine Jamieson, as part of the National Literacy Trust’s National Year of Reading 2026.

Designed to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds, the appeal encouraged donations at schools, libraries, businesses and Maximize Education’s headquarters in Loansdean, Morpeth.

Ms Jamieson said: “I want to say a heartfelt thank you to every single person who donated.

“Whether someone gave one book or dozens, every contribution will help a child discover the magic of reading and the opportunities it can create.

“The kindness shown by our local communities has been remarkable. Schools, libraries, businesses and individuals all came together because they recognised that something as simple as a book can change a child’s future.

“It’s a wonderful reminder of what can be achieved when a community unites behind a common cause.”

Most of the books were collected from schools, which donated more than 3,000 in total.

Libraries gathered more than 1,500, and Tesco Extra in Kingston Park contributed over 600.

Every book will be distributed by the charity Children North East through its community projects and services.

Maximize Education organised the appeal in response to research showing that children living in poverty often have fewer books at home, limiting their literacy development and educational opportunities before they start school.

The organisation says the success of the appeal demonstrates the generosity of local communities and the shared belief that every child should have the opportunity to experience the lifelong benefits that reading can bring.

Leigh Elliott, CEO of Children North East, said: “The dedication and generosity shown by Maximize Education and the local community has been incredible and will make a significant difference to the babies, children, young people, and families we work with, helping to support their reading and language development.

“With far too many children growing up without access to books, it is wonderful to be involved in this initiative.

“We are proud to partner with this organisation and to be part of a campaign that will create lasting benefits for so many across the region.”

“We are one of the worst-affected municipalities, right on the front line of the fire,” Manuel Martinez, mayor of the town Marcheprime, told outlet Franceinfo earlier this morning.

He described it as a “wildfire unlike anything we’ve seen before” that officials are working to understand.

“We are at war with an enemy,” he said, calling for more resources for firefighters.

Captain Wilfried Schneider of SDIS 33, the Gironde Fire and Rescue Service, told the AFP news agency yesterday that the biggest blaze was burning between Marcheprime and Pierroton, on the outskirts of the Bordeaux metropolitan area.

The Gironde prefecture said this morning that the huge wildfire remains “stabilised” following a “calm” night. Overnight flare-ups were brought under control, officials said, adding that the number of firefighters injured has risen to 93.

The Michelin-starred celebrity chef Marco Pierre White visited the Crown Inn at Boroughbridge as part of a launch of two gourmet sausages he helped created for the Coaching Inn Group.

The Crown Hotel in Boroughbridge, part of the group’s Premium Collection, welcomed Mr White for the launch, where he spent the day tasting and discussing the dishes with senior executive chef Malcolm Storey.

Malcolm Storey said: “Marco has always been a huge personal inspiration to me, and he’s definitely someone that so many of our chefs across the group look up to.

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“Being able to spend time with him and to work with him to bring this to life has definitely been a career highlight.”

The Chef, the first British chef to achieve three Michelin stars, developed the Bulldog Hotdog and the Coachman’s Hotdog in collaboration with Mr Storey.

Marco Pierre White said: “Together, we’ve created two distinct dishes that celebrate quality ingredients, bold flavours and the joy of sharing great food.

“It was a pleasure to visit The Crown Hotel recently, where my father used to be the head chef, to try the new anniversary hot dogs and chat with the team about the inspiration behind them.”

Marco Pierre White in the kitchen at The Crown Hotel in Boroughbridge. (Image: The Coaching Inn Group)

Both dishes feature premium bratwursts supplied by Mr White and Farmhouse Cuisine.

The Bulldog Hotdog includes a smoked bratwurst topped with pulled beef, crispy onions, garlic mayo and mustard.

The Coachman’s Hotdog features a smoked chicken bratwurst with barbecue sauce, melted cheese, bacon crumb and crispy onions.

The signature hot dogs are now available at selected Coaching Inn Group locations across the country.

Firefighters continue to battle vast wildfires that are tearing through European holiday hotspots, forcing thousands of people in France and Spain to flee. 

Massive blazes have been burning in the French areas of Gironde and Landes, with some 4,000 people evacuated on Tuesday from tourist sites on France’s Atlantic coast.

The Gironde fires have proven to be wildly unpredictable, transforming at times into self-forming fire storms that have burned an area four times the size of Paris.  

Several sites in neighbouring Spain have continued to burn, with several areas still out of control as the country braces for another intense heatwave. 

Portugal remains on high alert as flames tore through its northern district of Braga on Monday. 

Meanwhile, Italy grappled with fires in tourist destinations, including Sicily, Puglia and Tuscany. 

The return of scorching temperatures across the continent this week complicates efforts to fight the massive flames raging through Europe – with weather forecasters predicting temperatures could reach 40C in some parts of France on Tuesday. 

Thousands of Brits caught up in the devastating wildfires across Europe have been urged to follow evacuation instructions, with European relations minister Hamish Falcone stressing the importance of following travel advice. 

French state authorities have suggested those with upcoming trips to the areas affected cancel their holidays altogether, leaving several Brits facing a battle to claim costs. 

Sophie Brocas, the prefect of Gironde, which is at the centre of the blaze, said on Sunday: ‘I urge tourists not to come to this region, at least until the situation is under control. 

A forest fire rages in Saint-Jean-d’Illac, some 30km from Bordeaux

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A handout photo made available by SDIS 33, the official fire and rescue department for the area of Gironde, of firefighters taking a break in a forest

France 

France is going through an unprecedented wildfire season. 

On Tuesday, French authorities ordered the evacuation of nearly 4,000 people from campsites, tourist residences, holiday villages and leisure parks around Lacanau on France’s Atlantic coast. 

Several flare-ups were detected overnight north of Le Porge and in dunes north of Cap Ferret but were brought under control by firefighters, authorities said. 

‘We are at a point of fragility,’ Eric Brocardi, spokesperson for France’s national firefighters federation, told BFMTV on Tuesday. ‘We will continue attacking this fire despite the forecast rise in temperatures.’ 

The Bordeaux area – famed for its countless vineyards – is forecast to reach 33 degrees on Tuesday, piling pressure on crews battling the flames. 

‘The situation we ​are dealing with today is the most severe we have ever ⁠recorded, the toughest since the Second World War,’ President Emmanuel Macron, ​who flew to the area, said on Monday evening.

Fire crews had contained the ​blaze overnight, but the situation remained difficult, Nathalie Delattre, Senator for Gironde, which covers the city of Bordeaux, said.

‘Everything will depend on how the firefighters on the ground get ​on,’ she told BFM TV on Tuesday.

The ‌Landes ⁠area, southwest of Bordeaux, is covered by pine forests, which become highly flammable when dry. The fire has burned down 42,000 hectares so far. 

In the area of Biscarrosse, ​a town about ​40 km south, ⁠which was hit by another wildfire last week, the situation has improved, and some 15,000 evacuated people were gradually ​allowed back home in the town and a campsite ​nearby, the ⁠local administration said on X.

‘However, (the favourable) development does not mean the risk has been eliminated. Flare-ups remain possible, particularly due to weather conditions (wind, drought, etc.),’ it ⁠said.

Temperatures ​were set to increase in the region ​from the afternoon and peak at 37 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, weather office Meteo France said.

A drone view shows a burnt building in an area affected by a wildfire, in Le Porge, Gironde

A De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 Dash 8 operated by the French civil defense agency drops fire retardant as wildfires rage near Le Las, outside Bordeaux, France

firefighter stands before flames as a forest fire rages in Saint-Jean-d’Illac, some 30km from Bordeaux

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Spain 

As Spain entered its fourth heat wave of the summer on Tuesday, several blazes were still out of control. 

Hundreds of firefighters backed by military emergency brigades and water-dropping aircraft continued battling several major wildfires in Spain, including the largest ever recorded in the fire-prone country.

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said Tuesday that nonstop work through the night left him ‘reasonably positive,’ but warned that conditions could deteriorate as temperatures rose again.

Spain’s national weather service said the country was entering its fourth heat wave of the summer Tuesday, with temperatures expected to exceed 40 C (104 F) in some areas.

Authorities have evacuated some 79,000 people and ordered another 30,000 to remain in their homes during an unprecedented crisis that prompted the government to declare a national emergency for wildfires for the first time.

The greatest concern remained two large fires that had at times come close to merging into a single mega-blaze in wooded hills about an hour’s drive west of Madrid.

Another fire in the eastern province of Castellón also forced mass evacuations.

Spain’s Military Emergencies Unit (UME) shows UME personnel fighting a wildfire near Navas del Rey, 55 kilometers southwest of Madrid

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Members of the Emergency Military Unit (UME) utilize controlled burns to halt the spread of wildfires in the Madrid border region on July 28, 2026 in Cebreros, Avila 

A bar is burnt out in Pantano de San Juan following wildfires on July 27, 2026 in Pelayos de la Presa, in Madrid province, Spain

A burned residential plot is seen following wildfires on July 28, 2026 in Pelayos de la Presa, in Madrid province, Spain

Firefighters use controlled burning to halt a wildfire that continues to spread near Cebreros, in Avila province, Spain, Tuesday, July 28,

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A fire burning through hilly, rural terrain in Ávila, west of Madrid, has become Spain’s largest on record, scorching more than 193 square miles, the government said. That is five times the size of Barcelona.

‘Look at how the valley is burned. Look at the houses, the people,’ said David Gonzalez, a 48-year-old gardener who used his van to deliver supplies to firefighters in Ávila.

‘We are feeling a lot of anger and helplessness. It’s something inhuman,’ he said.

Fires have burned 590 square miles this year in Spain — six times the area scorched by blazes in the first half of 2025, said Sara Aagesen, the ecology minister.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for a national pact to fight wildfires made worse by climate change.

Portugal 

Over in neighbouring Portugal, a wildfire burned through the Braga district in the north of the country. 

More than 100 firefighters were battling the flames in Vila Verde on Monday evening. 

The country’s northern and central districts all remain on high alert for potential wildfires as temperatures continue to soar. 

Italy 

Meanwhile in Italy, a huge wildfire that hit Italy’s Mediterranean coast saw hundreds of people evacuated from beaches in the seaside town of Peschici in Puglia on Monday. 

According to Mayor Luigi D’Arenzo, Canadair aircraft dropped water bombs to extinguish flames in forested areas. 

Sicily, Calabria, Molise, Sardinia, Umbria and Tuscany – all of which host thousands of tourists in the summer months – have also been affected by flames. 

irefighter crews launched an aerial and ground response to contain a wildfire that broke out in scrubland near Torretta, outside Palermo on the island of Sicily

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Brits affected by wildfires 

As Europe continues to burn, British tourists could face a battle to claim back the cost of their holidays.

French state authorities have urged those with upcoming trips booked to cancel their holidays altogether. 

But while the Foreign Office has updated its travel guidance to France and Spain, it has not officially told Brits not to visit affected areas. 

This means insurance companies will not refund British tourists who cancel their trips, the trade body for UK insurance has warned. 

Speaking to The Telegraph, Fraser Lyall, general insurance senior policy advisor at the Association of British Insurers, said: ‘We understand that people will be concerned about travelling to areas affected by wildfires and may be thinking about cancelling their holiday.

‘If you’re considering cancelling flights or accommodation, you should speak to your insurer before making any changes, as policies generally only cover cancellations under very limited circumstances – such as if you or a family member fall ill and can’t travel.’

Around 4,000 are being evacuated from campsites, tourist residences, holiday villages and leisure parks

French authorities have ordered the emergency evacuation of 4,000 people from popular holiday spots along the Atlantic coast, as worsening weather threatens to feed raging wildfires.

The urgent clearance impacts campsites, holiday villages, tourist apartments, and leisure parks around Lacanau. Officials in the Gironde prefecture confirmed the order covers the popular seaside resort of Lacanau-Océan, alongside communities situated on both shores of Lake Lacanau.

Tourists and locals have been instructed to pack essential personal belongings, follow emergency instructions closely, and keep clear of the area until official clearance is granted.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared the wildfire disaster the “most difficult situation” the country has faced since the Second World War, as total evacuations across south-western France surged past 260,000. In nearby Bordeaux, Mayor Thomas Cazenave confirmed authorities are planning for “all eventualities” and setting up facilities to “accommodate a large number of people should further evacuations be ordered”.

The devastation continues to spread across Europe, with 63,000 people forced to flee their homes near Madrid in neighbouring Spain. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez branded the catastrophic blazes “the most painful expression of the climate emergency”.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Prime Minister Andy Burnham to bring in emergency legislation in order to stop the early release of hundreds of prisoners.

Burnham announced last week that he was pausing the scheme, which would have seen about 700 prisoners freed in the first phase in September, following a backlash from survivors and victims.

But the Conservatives say the government’s review will not stop offenders being released.

The scheme was part of a bid to stop unprecedented overcrowding, which Labour says was caused by Conservative governments failing to build new prisons.

A Labour spokesperson said: “It’s this government that is fixing the Tories’ mess.”

On Tuesday, Burnham said: “It is a challenging situation and we shouldn’t actually be in this position as a country, but we have to deal with the reality of where we are.

“But I will do anything I can to minimise risk to the public and that is why I am looking again and why I have put the release plan for September on hold and we’ll make further statements on this in due course.”

Early release was used by the Conservative government, external in 2023 because of prison overcrowding, first for 18 and then 70 days, and 10,000 prisoners had been released early by June 2024 – before Labour came to power.

When Sir Keir Starmer entered Downing Street in July 2024, there were fewer than 100 spare prison places across the adult male estate, which is what prompted the Sentencing Act to release another 6,000 prisoners early from September.

While the act already excludes some of the most serious and dangerous offenders, such as murderers serving life sentences or those on extended sentences, the eligibility for early release is based on the length of fixed sentence, external, rather than the type of offence.

That means some criminals convicted of serious sexual and violent offences who have a fixed release date will leave prison earlier than they had expected – although subject to monitoring and risk of recall to prison.

Badenoch is calling on Burnham to fast-track legislation to keep serious offenders behind bars.

Speaking at a press conference alongside victims who could be impacted by the changes, the Conservative leader said: “It’s quite clear that the prime minister sees that this is a problem, but I don’t think he knows what to do about it.”

She said she was concerned the pause would be “yet another thing where there will be warm words and nothing happens”.

Without emergency legislation, Badenoch says dangerous offenders will start to be released the day after MPs return to Parliament after the summer recess on Tuesday 1 September.

She is calling on Burnham to revoke legislation coming into effect on 2 September and if necessary recall Parliament to ensure the worst violent and sexual offenders are exempted from early release.

Asked if the problem of prison overcrowding was a failing of the last Conservative government, she said the “crisis” had been “long time coming”.

“We did something, it wasn’t enough, I’m sorry about that,” she said, adding: “I can’t fix the past, what I can do is come up with solutions.”

She said that to solve the problem of prison overcrowding in the long-run, the public needed to accept that some prisons would have to be built in their communities.

She also urged the government to consider renting prison places overseas.

Successive UK governments have explored the idea of sending prisoners to Estonia, however in 2025 the BBC was told that Conservative and Labour ministers had decided the plans would be too expensive.

Earlier this month, the Conservative front bench sought to put pressure on the government to rethink the earlier release plans, saying that it would mean some rapists would leave prison sooner than expected.

The government stood by the plan, saying it was a political choice to manage offenders on strict conditions in the community, rather than see the collapse of the system, leaving sex offenders and others to act with impunity.

Burnham’s decision to pause the scheme came after criticism from the family of Thames Valley Police officer Andrew Harper, who was killed in Berkshire in 2019 when he was dragged by a car down a country road by three teenagers.

Two of the killers of PC Harper, who were both sentenced to 13 years in prison, would have benefited from the scheme from June 2027, when the longest fixed sentences would have been added.

PC Harper’s widow Lissie called the plans “deplorable” and said politicians were “making decisions from behind a desk that will have real and lasting consequences” for the families of victims.

Defending the review of the Sentencing Act that has been announced by Burnham, a Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Conservatives have some nerve.

“During their 14 years in office, they shut 23 prisons, created just 482 jail places, and granted early release to 10,000 prisoners – leaving the criminal justice system teetering on verge of collapse.

“It’s this government that is fixing the Tories’ mess. We have already delivered over 3,000 prison places and we’re investing billions to deliver thousands more.”

Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Jess Brown-Fuller MP said: “The reality is that in a properly functioning justice system, no victim or loved ones should ever be told that their perpetrator is being released earlier than expected.

“Unfortunately, the Conservatives left our prisons on the brink of collapse, creating a capacity crisis that required emergency action to keep the system functioning and the public safe.

“Now that the government claims to have increased prison capacity, there is a clear opportunity for Burnham to correct some of the mistakes made by his predecessors with this scheme.”

Reform UK’s Home Affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf said the “disastrous” policy had been introduced by the Tories, and Badenoch had in 2024 supported efforts to expand it.

“It’s clear that only one party has consistently opposed early release and proposed strong law and order reforms to ensure hardened criminals are locked up for the full duration of their sentences,” Yusuf said in a statement.

“Only Reform UK will fix lawless Britain,” the party’s Home Affairs spokesperson added.