Archer to court further controversy
Disgraced Tory peer Lord Archer will court further controversy today in a conference speech to the Howard League for Penal Reform.
Lord Archer will articulate his views on how to reform the penal system. He is expected to say parole should be denied to illiterate inmates unless they first learn to read and write.
Lord Archer will say: “Introduce a 12-week reading and writing course for all illiterate prisoners, which would include a test at the end of the course that the prisoner would have to pass before they could be considered for any other job, or even more Draconian, early release.”
Controversially, the millionaire author is likely to say that inmates caught in possession of cannabis should be let off with a caution because prison governors make no differentiation between different kinds of drug use.
The former deputy chairman of the Tory party’s idea echoes moves by Home Secretary David Blunkett to downgrade cannabis to a category C drug.
But former prisoner FF8282 more controversial remarks were summarily dismissed as “nonsense” by prison groups.
Mark Leech, the editor of the Prison Handbook, said denying parole to illiterate inmates was “ludicrous.”
“He is completely off the mark.
“You’d think two years inside would educate him, but he doesn’t seem to have learned anything. If you take his views on cannabis to extremes, it would mean alcohol should be available. Prison is no place for drugs or drink,” Mr Leech said.
The Howard League has also rejected the peer’s more radical arguments.
For some, Lord Archer makes a few sound suggestions such as paying prisoners in full-time education the same as those work in jails and distinguishing and separating first time offenders from hardened career criminals.
