International Law

Nick is a Right old Herbert

By John Hirst

Just because Nick Herbert has the same first name as the slang term for prison, it does not mean that the shadow justice secretary for the Conservative Party and MP for Arundel and South Downs knows what he is talking about.

For example, Nick Herbert erroneously states "Let's set aside the obvious, if uncomfortable, fact that part of the purpose of prison is to punish".

You would have thought that somebody in his position would know the legal position. That is, that prisoners are sent to prison as punishment and not for punishment. It is the role of the judge or magistrate to punish when the sentence of the court is meted out. It is not the role of the Prison Service to punish prisoners with the regime.

If Nick Herbert cannot even get the basics right how can he be trusted with the more complex criminal justice matters?

As my foster father used to say to me "You're a right old Herbert"!

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on July 28, 2008 (boomark / email).