UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A Conservative MP, Richard Holden’s inquiry into Labour’s prison expansion led to the revelation that his party added only 455 spaces in 14 years.
A senior Tory MP has accidentally exposed his party’s shocking failure on prison capacity, admitting they have created just 455 prison spaces in over a decade.
How many prison spaces did the Tories add in 14 years?
As reported by The Independent, while attempting to challenge Labour’s track record, the shadow paymaster general submitted a written parliamentary question asking for details on how many prison spaces were created during Labour’s tenure from 1997 to 2010, compared to the Conservatives era from 2010 to 2024.
Sir Nicholas Dakin, the justice minister, revealed that the Tories expanded the prison estate by a mere 455 spaces over 14 years, fewer than the current government’s achievement in just seven months.
Which questions did Richard Holden ask regarding prison cells?
Mr Holden also inquired about the figures of existing prison cells that had extra beds installed to expand capacity. In response, Sir Nicholas said the Ministry of Justice does not have records covering the period in question.
Another question from the Tory MP revealed that more than 7,500 prison cells were shut down by the Conservatives between 2010 and 2024.
The MP for Basildon and Billericay asked for figures on new prison places, but Mr Nicholas stated that only total prison capacity data was available, as “records do not provide a complete breakdown.”
He criticised the Labour ministers for “sidestepping direct and valid inquiries,” arguing that they were either uninformed or reluctant to reveal the facts.
What did Holden say about Labour’s evasive response?
Responding to the figures, the Tory MP accused Labour of mishandling his questions. He stated,
“Labour ministers are embarrassingly avoiding answering clear and sensible questions either because they don’t know or are embarrassed by the truth.”
Mr Holden added,
“The contempt that Sir Keir Starmer’s government have for elected representatives is clear. I will be raising this with both Parliamentary and Ministerial standards bodies as it’s clear Labour ministers have contempt for the Nolan principles.”
Has the UK’s tough-on-crime approach led to a justice system crisis?
An official inquiry has revealed that repeated governments’ excessive dependence on prison sentences and their push to appear “tough on crime” have brought the justice system in England and Wales to the verge of collapse.
A new report by the Independent Sentencing Review suggests that longer jail sentences have been used as a quick-fix policy to show government action. The policy, described as a reactionary move rather than a strategic one, has resulted in an overburdened and ineffective justice system, despite crime rates dropping since the mid-1990s.
The report criticised the “unstrategic” extension of prison terms over the years, arguing that it has led to the neglect of alternative crime reduction and rehabilitation strategies, undermining other key objectives of sentencing.
The review, led by ex-Lord Chancellor David Gauke, released its findings on Tuesday, detailing the pressures that have pushed the justice system to the brink of collapse. The recommendations and proposed reforms are set to follow in the spring.
Last year, thousands of prisoners were released early in a bid to tackle overcrowding, as the government temporarily cut the minimum time served behind bars in England and Wales from 50% to 40%.
How is the prison population in England and Wales expected to grow?
The England and Wales prison system is operating near full capacity of 89,543, with 88,350 prisoners recorded on 30 August 2024. Projections warn of a sharp rise, with estimates suggesting the figure could reach between 94,600 and 114,800 by 2028, with an expected average of 105,800.