The father of
London Bridge
terror attack victim Jack Merritt has accused
Boris Johnson of using his death to “make political capital capital”.
David Merritt, who has been vocal about his son’s stance on rehabilitation in the eight days since his death, said on
Twitter that the PM represented “the worst of us”.
Writing on Twitter on Saturday, Merritt said Johnson had been taking people for a ride during the
BBC Election Debate against
Jeremy Corbyn on Friday evening.
He wrote: “Corbyn spoke the truth last night. Johnson lied and used our son’s death to make political capital.
“Wake up
Britain, this man is a fraud.
“He’s the worst of us, and he’s taking you for a ride.”
Cambridge University graduates Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones, 23, were attacked by Usman Khan during a prisoner rehabilitation event at Fishmongers’ Hall on Friday November 29.
Khan attacked five people, including the graduates, armed with two kitchen knives and wearing a fake suicide vest before he was tackled by members of the public on London Bridge and then shot dead by police.
During the BBC debate, the two party leaders were asked about balancing the needs of security against human rights in the wake of the terror attack.
Corbyn said: “What happened on the streets of London was utterly appalling and I was very moved by what Jack Merritt’s father said about what his son was trying to do.
“That he wanted a society where you did address the huge problems where somebody committed awful acts; of course you must imprison them, of course you try and rehabilitate them if you can.”
Johnson said: “I have huge sympathy for Mr Merritt and the families of both victims and it was an absolutely terrible thing.
“But I still think it’s wrong that someone like Usman Khan, who was sentenced to 21 years or 16 years plus five on licence, should have been out automatically on eight years.”
But Merritt said on Twitter that there was no justification for cutting the early release tariff and claimed it was just trying to “look tough.”
He added: “There is no justification at all for cutting the early release tariff from a half to a third of sentences for all sentences over four years that carry a maximum life sentence – that’s just trying to look tough on the backs of other prisoners’ suffering.
“If prisoners have engaged with rehabilitation and turned their lives around, why should they be punished for what Khan did?”
Speaking to reporters in Reading, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said: “I’m heartbroken for Jack Merritt’s father for what he is going through, which I can’t even begin to imagine the intensity of that grief.
“And that he has something to say and he has really clearly said he did not want politicians to politicise his son’s murder.
“And the very least Boris Johnson could have done was to listen to a grieving father and respect his wishes. And instead, he has done the opposite.”Related... Jack Merritt 'Would Be Livid' His Death Has Been Used 'To Further Hate', Says Father The London Bridge Attack Shows We Must Bolster, Not Abolish, Offender Reintegration Jeremy Corbyn Says Terrorists Should 'Not Necessarily' Serve Full Jail Term