Sadiq Khan MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, responding to the news that HMP Blantyre House has been closed, said:

“The confusing reports coming in about the closure of Blantyre House are the latest illustration of the prisons crisis on David Cameron’s Government’s watch. At a time when there’s severe pressure on prison capacity, when violence and suicides are surging, it seems an odd decision to close down a whole prison.

“If it’s the case the closure is due to severe staff shortages in the south east, then the Secretary of State has been negligent in one of his most basic of duties – ensuring there’s enough prison officers to keep the system running safely”