The scathing Independent Review of Prison Capacity, published earlier this month, suggested a long run of Conservative failures during 2010 and 2024. The conclusion of fourteen years of Conservative rule is suggested to be a single open prison, or its equivalent.
“The net effect is that fewer than 500 places have been added to total operational capacity between 2010 and 2024.”
This is not reflective of the rhetoric and campaigning that Conservatives undertook at a similar time. It’s also not sympathetic to those MP’s in leadership who formerly chose to prioritise it. It’s an indictment of its overall purpose.
The first challenge is to overcome a manufactured crisis driven by inferior, often youthful interests. The second is to ignore an immature, felt version of wisdom and to follow the needs of the Prison estate. It’s far more important than a village people mindset.
