Labour STILL has no plans to build any new prisons despite overcrowding
Labour has no plans to commission additional new prisons beyond its existing capacity programme, despite prisons in England and Wales operating close to full. The disclosure matters because sustained overcrowding can affect safety, rehabilitation and the ability to take cells out of use for essential repairs.
Ministry of Justice officials told MPs that 14,000 extra places are due by 2031, through four new prisons and expansions at existing sites. They said demand is rising by about 3,000 places annually, while the system has operated at more than 99% occupancy; officials suggested 95% would be a more sustainable level.
- Labour has no further prison-building plans.
- 14,000 additional places are planned by 2031.
- Prison occupancy has exceeded 99%.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Critics argue that a government which has repeatedly highlighted overcrowding has a responsibility to set out a credible plan for sufficient safe prison capacity, including new construction where needed. They contend that without extra places, overcrowding can undermine rehabilitation, staff safety and public confidence that courts can impose and enforce appropriate sentences. From this perspective, attributing the problem to the previous government does not remove Labour’s duty to publish a practical long-term response.
The case against
Supporters of Labour’s approach could argue that building prisons is expensive, slow and not necessarily the most effective answer to overcrowding. They may favour making better use of existing capacity, reducing remand delays, improving rehabilitation and alternatives to short custodial sentences, thereby addressing pressures while reducing reoffending. On this view, committing to new prisons before assessing demand and wider sentencing reforms could lock public money into a costly solution that fails to tackle the underlying causes.