Rest Is Politics podcast host argues Sycamore Gap fellers should not be imprisoned

Rory Stewart, who served as the Conservative MP of the neighbouring Penrith and the Borders constituency from 2010 until 2019, branded the crime “horrible” but claimed prison sentences should be reserved for violent criminals.

Government figures released last month showed that there were fewer than 1,000 spare prison cells across England and Wales, with jails sitting at 98.89% full.

Cumbrians Carruthers, 33, and Daniel Graham, 39, were found guilty of two counts of criminal damage for carrying out the “moronic mission” to fell the beloved tree on September 27 2023 following a trial earlier this month.

The pair will be sentenced on July 15 – the maximum sentence for criminal damage is 10 years in prison

Speaking on this week’s episode of The Rest Is Politics Question Time, Mr Stewart said: “Our prisons are severely overcrowded.

“I’m afraid what these people did was horrible, but in a totally overcrowded, insane prison system that should really be kept for murders and violent criminals, I’m not sure it is the best use of a prison place.”

Mr Stewart added that the tree was “precious to many” and described it as the “most iconic thing”. He said the two culprits appeared to have cut it down “for a laugh” and that the crime caused “real sadness and devastation”.

According to the Prison Reform Trust, England and Wales have the highest imprisonment rate in Western Europe, followed closely by Scotland. England and Wales have a rate of 141 prisoners per 100,000 residents, compared to 106 in France; 96 in Italy; 67 in Germany; and 57 in Norway.

The podcast’s co-host, former Labour communications director Alistair Campbell, warned Mr Stewart he would have “upset quite a lot of people” with his remarks and said he believed Carruthers and Graham would get “quite long sentences”.

Senior politicians in the North East have already called for tough punishments for the pair. Labour Mayor Kim McGuinness called for “tough sentences” and said the pair “must be punished” for a “night of idiocy”.

The Conservative leader of Northumberland County Council, Glen Sanderson, called the crime “revolting” and called for a punishment “that fits the crime”.

Responding to Mr Stewart’s comments, Coun Sanderson said: “On the evidence that was presented, it was a deliberate act and I would very much hope that the punishment fits the crime – however full the prisons may be.

“This was a very serious and incredibly unbelievable thing to do, that has affected the lives of literally millions of people who have enjoyed seeing the tree and spending time there. It was the most wonderful thing.

“Anybody could have thought it was somehow okay to wilfully destroy this surely must face the consequences.”