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| If there was one thing we learned this week, it was this: the readers of Politics.co.uk do not think banning prisoners from receiving books is a particularly good policy. This has not, it's fair to say, been a normal week for us. The extraordinary kerfuffle which accompanied an article condemning justice secretary Chris Grayling's policy created a political controversy which, so far, hasn't faded away. The Ministry of Justice ends the week quite a bit less popular than it was at the start. It was Frances Crook of the Howard League for Penal Reform whose comment piece kicked it all off. "From now on, any man, woman or child in prison will not be able to receive a book from outside," she wrote. "This is part of an increasingly irrational punishment regime orchestrated by Chris Grayling that grabs headlines but restricts education or rehabilitation." Grayling's response was to argue, in a response also published on Politics.co.uk, that it's simply not true that prisoners are banned from books outright. Of course not – as the prime minister's spokesperson told us on Wednesday, the government has a statutory obligation to do so. What Grayling failed to realise is that this is about preventing prisoners from committing further crimes. Rehabilitation, not punishment. If prisoners are really to embrace reading, they should be able to rely on more than just the yellow-paged, limited supply in the prison library. The week which followed turned into a template crash-course in opposition politics. Grayling's shadow Sadiq Khan quickly provided an article for us making clear why he believes Grayling is off the mark. A host of Britain's leading literary figures clubbed together to challenge the ban in a letter to a national newspaper. Yesterday evening Khan delivered a speech at IPPR in which he made clear that a Labour government would reverse the ban. With Downing Street backing Grayling to the hilt, poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy led a poetry protest outside Pentonville Prison. The campaign continues, with the Howard League masterminding a wave of #shelfie pics that are now all over Twitter. There was other news, of course. The big political story of the week was the first EU debate between Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage. In the spin room – a glitzy London ballroom infested with television cameras that looked suspiciously like it was preparing for a disco the moment all the hacks had cleared out – both sides dispensed with the usual victory claims and instead proclaimed a triumph for democracy. They were right. Wednesday evening saw the country's press forget about the two parties which have dominated Westminster's stale political culture for decades. In their place were two politicians who had utterly different views about a fundamentally important issue. This deserved attention. And with the European elections now less than two months away, these exchanges really mattered. This was also a week for big energy news. The Scottish independence referendum was all about North Sea oil; prime minister's questions was all about Ed Miliband gloating over David Cameron about SSE's decision to implement a price freeze; and the Big Six faced a big inquiry from the Competition Commission. We spoke to energy bosses at a conference for hand-wringing in central London. The wailing was unstoppable. The week ends with another important issue emerging: the government's brutal suppression of judicial reviews. This is basically about ministers making it easier for them to break laws. Sound important? Well, it is – and we'll be covering it in full, as well as all the news about the ongoing prisoner book ban row, in full. Until then, it's weekend time… SundayComment: Why has Grayling banned prisoners being sent books? The justice secretary's decision to punish reading is as nasty as it is bizarre Gap closes in Scottish independence campaign as 'yes' camp gathers momentum Gap between the 'yes' and 'no' campaigns in the Scottish referendum narrows to seven points, amid signs of momentum in the independence camp Tories close in on Labour lead following Budget poll boost A pair of disastrous polls for Labour see the Tories start to close the gap with the opposition, in the wake of a well received Budget MondayComment: The ban on sending prisoners books is part of my rehabilitation revolution Offenders need to behave well if they are to earn privileges Prison book ban: Grayling hits back at critics Justice secretary hits out at critics of decision to ban prisoners receiving books, saying the rule is necessary to improve rehabilitation rates The 'green card' which lets Westminster take the fight to Brussels Peers recommend a strengthening of national parliaments' ability to irritate the EU's commissioners TuesdayPrison book ban: The questions Chris Grayling must answer Last night, Chris Grayling wrote a piece for Politics.co.uk defending his ban on prisoners being sent books. Today, we highlight the questions raised by his response. Comment: Grayling has shown his true colours with prison book ban The justice secretary has given up on drug-free wings, but he's pushing book-free wings Alan Bennett joins prison book ban campaign Justice secretary barely keeps his head above water as he's hit by multiple crises WednesdayAs-it-happened: Clegg v Farage live from the spin room Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage are in a room somewhere arguing about Europe. Join us for live coverage from the spin room 'We're getting hammered': The never-ending misery of energy bosses Facing a maelstrom of public anger from consumers, politicians and the press, energy bosses are getting desperate NUT strike: Why performance-related pay for teachers doesn't work Teachers are right to strike over performance related pay: studies show it simply doesn't work. ThursdayThe internet censorship programme you're not allowed to know about The legal battle to find out precisely what is being included in internet filter programmes Prison staff lash out at Chris Grayling over book ban Campaign against Grayling's prison book ban backed by prison staff, as justice secretary's argument starts to unravel Painting Tony Benn: 'He went to sleep while I was drawing him' "He was always very interested in just talking to people." FridayComment: The BBC's badger cull reporting has misled Britain The Beeb deserves to be badgered over its handling of an Irish cull complaint This Is Your Brain Online: The challenge of the twitcident Whether you're a train company, a supermarket, a government or a political Party, twitcidents matter Poet Laureate takes on prisoner book ban with Pentonville protest Carol Ann Duffy takes lead in campaign against the prisoner book ban with poetry protest outside Pentonville prison T'internetThe Political Week Online: Farage wins TV debate Nigel Farage is declared the winner of #NickvNigel - but what is #FarageFacts? Marriage equality legislation comes into force. And is Ed Miliband weird? | 'Take action to stamp out racism' says NASUWT on World Anti-Racism DayThe NASUWT is challenging government administrations across the UK to demonstrate stronger leadership and to take action to stamp out racism. NASUWT comments on Ofsted changesYet another ad-hoc announcement by the inspectorate, causing turbulence and destabilising schools and teachers when what is needed is a coherent approach to the reform of the accountability system. Boeing Rolls Out First Next-Generation 737 at Increased Production RateNew rate increases production to record 42 airplanes per month. Iceland's whaling crusader attempts to ship 2,000 tonnes of fin whale meatIceland’s lone whaling crusader is attempting to ship 2,000 tonnes of fin whale meat out of the country despite limited market for the meat and opposition at home and abroad to the bloody trade. Association encourage by Budget support for manufacturing and housebuildingThe Construction Products Association welcomed the Chancellor’s 2014 Budget Statement which backs British manufacturers and builders. RSPCA urges 'Do not disturb' as baby birds begin to leave the nestAs nesting and fledgling bird season begins RSPCA asks the public to be aware. |
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