Tories Vow to Build 50,000 New Prison Places, Citing 'Prison Works' Mantra

The Conservative Party plans to build 50,000 new prison places, a policy championed by Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy, who advocates for a return to the principle that "prison works." This initiative aims to address rising crime rates and current early-release schemes, which Timothy criticizes as a "state failure."

Timothy, a proponent of former Tory Home Secretary Michael Howard's policies, stated that prison serves to punish, deliver justice, and remove offenders from circulation. He pointed to the 1990s, when a significant prison building program coincided with a halving of crime rates, as a model for current policy. "Crimes like shoplifting have gone up by 20 per cent because there's no message to anybody who shoplifts that there will be a meaningful punishment," Timothy argued.

The proposed £2 billion-a-year policy, to be funded by cuts to foreign aid and Whitehall budgets, would enable the Conservatives to scrap Labour's early-release program and reverse what Timothy calls the "effective abolition" of short sentences for offenses such as shoplifting and knife possession. "We need to be able to reverse those two things, and we need to be able to say with certainty that if you commit a violent crime, or if you're a repeat burglar or shoplifter guilty of one of those acquisitive crimes – yeah, you will definitely go to prison," he said.

Timothy acknowledged that insufficient prison building by previous governments contributed to the current crisis, admitting that budget cuts during the Coalition years, when he advised then-Home Secretary Theresa May, were a "mistake." However, he stressed that this does not negate the need for a firmer stance on crime. He also articulated a broader theme that Britain has become too tolerant of those who harm society, advocating for a return of consequences to the criminal justice system.

Beyond the justice system, Timothy expressed strong views on foreign policy and social integration. He criticized Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's engagement with Iran's counterpart shortly before an alleged Iranian-backed plot against RAF Fairford, deeming it naive. He also voiced disappointment with the Archbishop of Canterbury over an award given to a Pakistani cleric who had praised Osama bin Laden, contrasting it with the financial struggles of local churches.

As co-chair of a Tory integration commission, Timothy is exploring ways to build a more cohesive society. He is critical of multiculturalism and supports the idea that public services should primarily operate in English. The commission is also examining a potential ban on the burqa and niqab, which Timothy personally views as "a deliberate attempt to cut people off from the rest of society."

Timothy cited several cases, including the handling of the murder of Henry Nowak and the counter-terror Prevent scheme's closure of cases involving Axel Rudakubana and Valdo Calocane, as examples of systemic failures that harm individuals and society. He emphasized the need for the country to decide whether it will uphold sovereign, accountable individuals or base judgments on ethnic or religious groups.

Reflecting on the political landscape, Timothy expressed confidence in the Tories' ability to win the next election, particularly under the leadership of Kemi Badenoch. He critiqued the current Prime Minister's focus on constitutional issues, suggesting they do not align with the country's priorities and could lead to tax increases, while asserting that the Conservatives are pursuing the correct path.