Health Secretary Wes Streeting Breaks Silence on Lucy Letby Case
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has issued a clear and definitive statement regarding the Lucy Letby case, breaking his silence as a new documentary about the convicted former nurse lands on Netflix. Mr Streeting emphasised his confidence in the court's judgments, describing Letby as a convicted criminal guilty of some of the most serious crimes imaginable.
Statement Coincides with Netflix Documentary Release
The politician's comments come directly as the new documentary, The Investigation Of Lucy Letby, was released on the streaming platform today, February 4th. When questioned by LBC News about a campaign movement and the documentary's launch, the Health Secretary stated he would certainly not provide a running commentary on the ongoing judicial matters.
He elaborated further, stating: “Unless and until there is a judicial process that says that the court has got it wrong, I have to continue to have confidence in the court’s judgments, and I’m certainly not going to provide a running commentary. I can see there’s an active campaign on this, and there is a judicial process. If people think the courts have got it wrong, they can bring forward their evidence. They can test it and challenge it in the usual way. But it’s absolutely not for me to comment.”
Background on the Lucy Letby Convictions
Lucy Letby, now 36, was removed from clinical duties in July 2016 after consultant paediatricians raised serious concerns that she may have been deliberately harming infants in her care. Following a high-profile trial, she was convicted and is currently serving 15 whole-life orders at HMP Bronzefield. Her convictions are for:
- The murder of seven infants
- The attempted murder of seven others, which included two attempts on one victim
These crimes occurred between June 2015 and June 2016. Campaigners supporting Letby have submitted reports to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in an attempt to have her convictions overturned, though she was denied permission to appeal against her convictions twice during 2024.
Documentary Release and Ongoing Judicial Processes
The release of the Netflix documentary coincides significantly with the opening of inquests into the deaths of five babies whom Letby was convicted of murdering. Mr Streeting concluded his remarks by reaffirming his position: “As far as I’m concerned, Lucy Letby is a convicted criminal and convicted of some of the most serious crimes imaginable. And unless and until that changes, I will continue to support the judgment of the courts unless that judgment is successfully challenged through evidence, not through campaigning.” This statement underscores the government's stance of respecting established legal outcomes while acknowledging the formal avenues available for case review.
