Prison parties: Slap-down for minister over decision
A GOVERNMENT minister was brutally slapped down by Downing Street yesterday after he lifted an order banning taxpayer-funded party nights for prisoners.
In a humiliating rebuke for Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt, No. 10 revealed it had ordered his department to make clear there would be no such events.
The strongly-worded comments – understood to have followed a conversation between Prime Minister David Cameron and Justice Secretary Ken Clarke – were said to have been prompted by “dismay’’ that Mr Blunt had not cleared his announcement with No. 10 in advance.
It was seen as a warning shot to other ministers who might be tempted to “freelance”. Commentators also saw it as another symptom of unease over the unfavourable headlines sparked by the emphasis Mr Clarke and his team are placing on rehabilitating offenders.
The No. 10 spokesman said Mr Cameron retained confidence in Mr Blunt but insisted: “Policy needs to be done by collective agreement.”
He conceded that while prison was “a place of punishment” there also had to be rehabilitation and that prison governors “need to use their best judgment”.
Mr Blunt announced his decision at an event marking the 100th anniversary of a speech by then Home Secretary Winston Churchill on prison reform. He repeatedly invoked Churchill’s “humanity” towards offenders in a bid to show reform was not a betrayal of Conservative values.
He was “pleased” to have been able to repeal the order on prison parties imposed two years ago by then Labour Justice Secretary Jack Straw.
The ban was introduced following a public outcry about a “Monsters’ Ball” horror-themed fancy dress party for women lifers at Holloway Prison.
In comments that came back to haunt him yesterday, Mr Blunt said he had not known of the parties ban before becoming a minister but “was vaguely conscious of some row in the tabloids about offenders being recorded as enjoying themselves”.
