A convicted gang member and kidnapper, freed early from prison under Labour’s controversial early release scheme, has mocked Sir Keir Starmer in a rap song released on Christmas Day.
Isaac Donkoh, known as Young Dizz, was released in October after serving over half of a 12-and-a-half-year sentence for kidnapping and torturing a 16-year-old boy. He was freed nearly two weeks earlier than scheduled, a decision fiercely criticized by political opponents and commentators.
The Rap Lyrics Taking Aim at Starmer
Donkoh’s rap track, titled “Plugged In,” directly addresses Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a provocative lyric that proclaims, “Now that I’m back, I’m raising the crime rate. Keir Starmer let me out now he wants me back, got me scratching my head like make up your mind, mate.”
The track, which was released on a popular drill music channel, has sparked significant backlash, rekindling debates around Labour’s sentencing policies and public safety measures.
Early Release and Labour’s Policy
Donkoh was eligible for early release under Labour’s initiative to combat overcrowding in prisons, a policy that allows certain offenders to be freed after serving just 40% of their sentence instead of the standard 50%.
After coming into power, Labour declared the prison system to be at a crisis point, with facilities running at 99% capacity for months. Prisons minister James Timpson defended the policy, citing that Britain faced the risk of a “total breakdown of law and order” if urgent measures weren’t taken.
However, critics argue the policy prioritizes administrative convenience over public safety. Images of freed prisoners celebrating with champagne at prison gates, with one praising Starmer, have further fueled controversy.
The Case of Isaac Donkoh
Isaac Donkoh’s trial painted a chilling picture of his crime. His victim, a 16-year-old boy, was kidnapped, blindfolded with plastic bags, threatened with a machete, and forced to strip naked in an attack filmed and shared on Snapchat. Deputy Chief Inspector Jim McKee described Donkoh as a key figure linked to an increase in violent crimes in Newham.
McKee added, “The streets were undeniably safer with Donkoh behind bars. His drill videos often glorified violence, correlating directly to real-life stabbings and shootings.”
The Political Fallout
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice blasted Labour’s policies, declaring, “Starmer doesn’t care about law and order and has no plan to tackle these issues, other than releasing thousands of criminals back onto our streets.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson defended the government’s stance, explaining, “Serious violent and sexual offenders were excluded from the early release scheme. Offenders released are on strict license conditions and subject to immediate recall if breached.”
The representative also highlighted plans to build new prisons and conduct a comprehensive sentencing review to avoid future overcrowding crises.
A Continuing Debate
The release of Donkoh and his subsequent public mockery of Starmer has reignited debates about the balance between prison reform and public safety. Labour’s early release scheme remains one of the most debated decisions of the current government, with its broader implications for law and order likely to dominate political discourse.