Lord Falconer, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, responding to the claim by Nick Hardwick that Chris Grayling tried to interfere with a prison report, said:
“Nick Hardwick’s claim is deeply worrying and, if true, completely unacceptable. Chris Grayling must now urgently confirm whether he did seek to influence the Chief Inspector’s report and if he won’t David Cameron must order an urgent investigation into the matter.
"Independent inspections, particularly at a time when our prisons are in crisis, are key to maintaining accountability and public confidence in our system.
"Labour, the Chief Inspector and the Justice Committee have all called for the inspections regime to be strengthened and made truly independent. It is now time for Ministers to listen and urgently implement reforms.”