Responding to the coalition's u-turn today on prison parties, Jack Straw MP, Labour's Shadow Justice Secretary said:
 
"This is chaotic stuff and very early in the government's term.
 
"Since Mr Blunt rescinded the ban on prison parties last Tuesday I can only assume he did so with the express authority of the Secretary of State for Justice. It says very little for the internal processes of government, as well as the judgement of Ministry of Justice ministers, that there appears to have been no proper clearance of this decision with Downing Street.
 
"So much for the claims that there is a new formality within the British Government to ensure collective decision making. If there is it broke down altogether on this occasion."