This is a quite extraordinary proposal from the former Lib Dem Home Affairs spokesman. Now, I fully understand that at times MP’s toe the party line for the sake of party unity and getting things done. However, does he really believe that having no prisons would lead to a reduction in crime or the fear of crime?
Equally, what he appears to be saying is that it was only because the party would tumble in the polls that his colleagues did not want to back him
The Winchester MP (ed, Mark Oaten) desperately wanted to say that all prisons should be demolished and replaced with education and training centres, mental health facilities and drug rehabilitation units. But his Lib Dem colleagues would never allow him to air this radical view in public.
“It was clear to me that prison wasn’t working,” says Mr Oaten. “But I would have been crucified as a front line politician for saying this in public and the party would have tumbled in the opinion polls.”
Is this really something we should even be considering? Do Lib Dems really believe that this is the future for dealing with criminals?
1 Comment
August 9, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Unbelievable! The Lib Dems are on another planet when it comes to crime, calling them ’soft on crime’ is the biggest understatement of the century. In reality they are anarchists and dangerous. Please God these lunatics are never given the keys to the asylum!