I remember the Dictator General of the Prison Service, Will Feetly, telling me about the back stabbing from his Chief Officer, when he was Deputy Governor of Gartree Prison. And, that the militant Prison Officer’s Association, often posed a bigger problem for him than the prisoners. Similarly, I am having difficulties within the Home Office from civil servants who are being very uncivil towards me and my plans for a shake up. I am seriously considering calling in the Home Guard to put an end to this infighting.
One good thing is that because the cabinet minister responsible for prisons cannot be in the House of Lords, as Lord Falconer is, therefore it means that I have got rid of, at least, one pain in the arse.
Peter Riddell, political correspondent for The Times, has promised to treat anyone who spots the deliberate mistakes behind the headlines to some Thornton’s fudge.
