Labour has admitted it is has not actually planned to build a single new prison since taking office. Can’t blame the crumbling prison crisis on the Tories for much longer…
In response to Ben Obese-Jecty’s written parliamentary question on how many new prisons have been approved, justice minister Jake Richards said:
“No new prisons have been (a) planned or (b) approved since 5 July 2024.”
Last year, then-Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood promised to build four new male prisons as part of her 10-year prison plan. Today she’s busy vowing to overhaul the asylum system. Starmer will be hoping these latest set of promises survive beyond the stage of being a plan for a plan…
Labour’s manifesto pledged to “take control of the planning process” by designating prisons of “national importance” and insisted the “approval decision is in ministers’ hands.” It’s up to Lammy now…
