Prisoners for Palestine: Hunger Strikes

Lord Cashman Excerpts

Monday 2nd February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Timpson (Lab)]

Prison rules are there for a very good purpose, and rules are rules. It is the same for any prisoner, on remand or not. If any prisoner is not content, their concerns can be brought to the independent monitoring board or the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

[Lord Cashman (Non-Afl)]

My Lords—

[Lord Harper (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

We will go to the non-affiliated Benches and then to the Conservative Benches.

[Lord Cashman (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, as a non-affiliated Member, I share the deep concerns of my noble friend Lord Hain. I say to the Minister that it is not eulogising to ask for compassion, fairness and justice for people held on charge, on remand, not proven. Therefore, will the Minister meet with those who could perhaps somehow bring the families and relatives of those in prison closer to them? There is a tragic need for this, and it needs to be done urgently.

[Lord Timpson (Lab)]

I spend a lot of my time going around prisons, meeting staff, meeting prisoners and seeing probation areas as well. There are already well-established routes. If prisoners and their families have concerns, the independent monitoring board and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman are the best routes for them to take up their concerns.