Nigel Farage’s proposal to establish temporary prisons for serious criminals has faced strong criticism. Justice Minister Jake Richards, speaking at HMP Feltham in West London, dismissed Farage’s plan to allocate £5 billion for constructing new ‘Nightingale’ prisons.
Richards expressed concerns, stating that temporary prisons housing serious offenders would not be suitable near residential areas. He emphasized that the Reform party, led by Farage, lacks concrete solutions to address the current prison crisis.
In a recent announcement, Farage proposed building five low-security prisons on Ministry of Defence (MOD) land, aiming to accommodate 12,400 “lower category offenders” if his party gains power.
Richards highlighted the challenges faced by the Labour party in dealing with prison overcrowding, attributing past issues to the Conservative government’s management. He noted a significant disparity between prison capacity and the number of incarcerated individuals during the Tories’ tenure.
The Justice Minister underscored the necessity of making tough decisions to rectify the damage caused by previous administrations, particularly in the realm of prisons and criminal justice. He emphasized the public’s understanding and appreciation of the government’s efforts to address these critical issues.