I see Daniel Kawczynski is making another bid to snatch Lembit Opik's crown as Britain's most ridiculous MP: Otis Ferry 'a political prisoner'.

The latest

http://www.shropshirestar.com/2008/11/11/o...in-behind-bars/

Otis Ferry obviously needed to learn a lesson or two but losing one's liberty is a lot more profound than many people realise and I doubt he will come out of all this the same guy.

As for our MP doesn't he realise a lot of Tory voters are opposed to blood sports?

You are right, Daniel Kawczynski is giving the impression he is a shallow headline grabber.

Strange man! Ever since he took cattle to Downing Street to support the plight of farmers and almost caused a stampede, I have always thought this man was to be polite a tad eccentric, a typical Tory really :rolleyes:

Otis says prisons are too soft and for namby pambys. I hope they don't have the luxury of reading the Shropshire Star. He might regret saying that!

He is trying to show a stiff upper lip methinks!

Ferry is not used to Namby Pamby treatment of course having attended Marlborough College and Eton. Porridge will put hairs on his chest. The only person who seems to be missing him is dear Daniel :huh:

This is the link to the above postings

http://www.shropshirestar.com/2008/11/13/o...is-namby-pamby/

It seems though that there are a number of differences in the regime and entitlements for remand prisoners awaiting trial -

Remand prisoners awaiting trial compared to convicted prisoners

Clothing
Allowed to wear own clothes/
Must wear prison clothing, unless individual prison permits own clothes.

Voting
Entitled to vote/
Not entitled to vote.

Income
Can retain extra private cash/
Access to private cash strictly limited .

Business
Can undertake reasonable activity to maintain business interests/
No provision for maintaining any business interests.

Education and Work
Do not have to work or attend education/
Must work and attend education as directed or be penalized via the Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme.

Visits
Entitled to a minimum of 90 minutes of visiting per week/
Entitled to a minimum of 60 minutes visiting per month.

Benefits
Retain entitlement to state benefits such as Incapacity Benefit and Retirement Pension, which are payable in arrears unless a defendant receives a custodial sentence/
Not entitled to any state benefits, except Housing Benefit.

(Source: http://www.innocentuntilprovenguilty.com )

The PLOT thickens

I think this is very true - particularly for a younger person.

Not sure it will necessarily lead to introspection and remorse, though. Even if he doesn't get his face re-arranged by some crack-abusing cellmate, he might end up even more resentful and bloody-minded than before.

That 'namby pamby' article, if it bears any relation to what he actually said (and who am I to question the Shropshire Star's version of events?) sounds like a rather desperate attempt at bravado.