Government turning prisons into places of reform will remain a pipedream – Richard Burgon

Richard Burgon MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, responding to David Gauke's speech on prisons, said:

“This speech failed to provide a serious plan to tackle the root causes of the prisons crisis, which is driven by the Tories’ deep cuts to staff numbers and budgets.

“The Government’s claim that it is turning prisons into places of reform will remain a pipedream while understaffing and overcrowding leaves prisoners locked in their cells for up to 23 hours a day.”