‘Prisons are powder keg ready to blow’ – Labour’s shadow justice minister

Labour, meanwhile, has promised to deliver 14 thousand more prison places by building new prisons to help ease the overcrowding crisis.

Sir Keir Starmer criticised the Conservatives’ early release scheme, but admitted that Labour would have to take some “tough decisions” if it wins power.

We spoke to Labour’s shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood, and started by asking whether she feels the current prison system is working.