Sadiq Khan MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on the secure college announcement, said:

“Much more needs to be done to reduce re-offending and this money would be better spent on existing youth prisons rather than on a vanity bricks-and-mortar project for Chris Grayling.

“With numbers of young people in custody falling year on year, it seems an odd priority of David Cameron’s Government to fork out £85million on this in its final months in office. All the evidence shows that a prison of this size runs the risk of being a violent and dangerous place that will do little to rehabilitate young people.

“What’s more, by pushing ahead with contracts before Parliament has even debated the relevant legislation, Chris Grayling is sticking two fingers up to the concerns of MPs from all sides at his Victorian-style youth justice policies.“