Prisons in England and Wales to cut spending on education courses by up to 50%

Move comes despite election manifesto promises from Keir Starmer to improve ‘access to learning’

Prisons across England and Wales are set to slash frontline spending on education courses by up to 50%, despite promises from Keir Starmer to improve “access to learning” in last year’s general election manifesto.

The budget for classroom courses at HMP Leicester will be cut by 46.5%, another men’s prison is cutting spending by 25%, while a women’s prison is cutting its provision in education by 26%, sources have confirmed.