Justice Secretary: ‘The relevant security protocols were in place’
The escape of Daniel Khalife from HMP Wandsworth this week has shone a spotlight on the government’s prison record. Over 60 per cent of prisons in the UK are overcrowded, and there are severe staff shortages. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk told Laura Kuenssberg that the relevant security staff and protocols were in place during Khalife’s escape on Wednesday, but he did not yet know whether the protocols ‘were followed to the extent that they should be’. Chalk also claimed the government were working hard to attract and retain prison staff.
‘Which politician… is going to put front and centre in their manifesto that they want prison reform’
With the total number of prisoners in the country expected to keep rising, Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor pointed out that in the 1990s crime was higher but the country’s prison population was half of what it is now. He suggested that lowering this number was key to improving the system and preventing prisoners from reoffending on release. Former adviser Salma Shah said that politicians from all parties didn’t want to focus on longterm prison reform.
Jonathan Reynolds: low growth limits public services spending
Kuenssberg asked Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds what Labour would do differently when it comes to prisons. Reynolds pointed out that the government actually put aside a significant amount of funding for prisons which they have not yet spent, but he avoided clarifying whether Labour would increase that figure, instead focusing on the need to improve growth in the economy.
Rory Stewart: ‘we should be reviewing parliamentary passes and funding’
A parliamentary researcher with links to several Tory MPs was arrested this week under the Official Secrets Act after being accused of spying for China. Trevor Phillips spoke to former MP Rory Stewart, who said he was very concerned with China’s and Russia’s attempts to undermine democracies through espionage and funding. Stewart claimed recent military coups across Africa suggested that democratic governments across the world were under threat.
‘Ukraine is winning and Russia is losing’
And finally, Kuenssberg spoke to the heads of the UK and the USA’s military about the situation in Ukraine. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said that Russia’s aim of subjugating Ukraine had failed, and ‘will never happen’, and pointed to Russia’s isolation on the international stage. General Milley was more circumspect when talking about Ukraine’s counter-offensive, saying it was too early to know how much success Ukraine will have before winter sets in.
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