Three weeks on: Authors snubbed by Grayling over book ban meeting
Some of Britain's leading literary talents have called on Chris Grayling to acknowledge a letter they sent him nearly a month ago, following a period of deafening silence from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
In a message sent to the justice secretary at the start of the month, Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, Julian Barnes, Ian McEwan and Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time author Mark Haddon asked for a meeting so they could put the case for an ease on the restrictions on prisoners being sent books.
But three weeks have now passed with no reply. MoJ officials said the request for a meeting was still being considered.
"There has been no response," Ann Duffy said.
"Feelings on this issue in the literary community are still running high and ministers cannot shut their eyes and ears and pretend it will go away. It is time that the Ministry of Justice engaged publicly."
Haddon said: "I'm hugely disappointed that the government has not reversed the rule that prisoners in the UK can't be sent books. The public outcry has been overwhelming and the Ministry of Justice's arguments make absolutely no sense whatsoever.
"The policy does absolutely nothing useful except antagonise prisoners, undermine their rehabilitation and shame us in the eyes of the world. And I suspect that the government are sticking with it simply because they are afraid of seeming weak."
The book ban was introduced in November last year as part of Grayling's Incentives and Earned Privilges scheme, but did not hit the headlines until a comment piece by Frances Crooke of the Howard League for Penal Reform for Politics.co.uk.
Campaigners had hoped that the letter might be enough to get the justice secretary to at least meet with them and hear their concerns, but there has been no communication from the department since it was sent.
"I am surprised, and disappointed, that the secretary of state has not agreed to our request for a meeting to discuss the ban on sending books and other essential items to prisoners," Crooke said.
"We wrote to him nearly a month ago and have not even had the courtesy of a response.
"There has been huge national and international condemnation of the government's parsimonious policy. I am sure we can find a way to reverse the policy so that prisoners can read books."
Grayling has been urged to drop the ban by figures across the political spectrum, including Tory and Lib Dem MPs.
The policy has been denounced by shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan, who said he would reverse it if Labour wins the general election.
It was also criticised by Caroline Lucas of the Green party and Nigel Farage of Ukip.
But Grayling refuses to change his position. Some critics believe the justice secretary has become so angry at the campaign – and at the Howard League in particular – that he is allowing personal animosity to cloud his decision making.
Grayling says the ban on prisoners being sent books is a part of his eforts to improve rehabilitation rates behind bars.
