Foye statement: SNP fails first crucial test

"This was the week when the SNP had a choice – are they creating a soft-touch Scotland or are they standing up for the people of Scotland. Kenny MacAskill today defended the legal right of prisoners to be sent to an open prison, as he hid behind the European Convention of Human Rights. The Scottish Government is blaming the previous Executive but have no plans to do anything about it, because it suits their goal of emptying our prisons.

"I am extremely concerned by the fact there will only be a ‘presumption’ against returning absconders to an open prison. A ‘presumption’? If a prisoner absconds, there is nothing to presume. They must serve the rest of their sentence in a closed prison, no second chances.

"This is a make-or-break week for the SNP on justice issues. Sadly, they’ve flunked the first test today. Even worse, they will press ahead tomorrow with their plans for extending Home Detention Curfews to more violent prisoners. Unless they backtrack, and backtrack fast, they will have utterly failed to convince the public that they have what it takes to protect them."