David Gauke

But only a candidate who rejects wishful thinking, has the courage to tell the truth about the options in front of us and who will address Brexit on the basis of the hard realities will succeed.

Non-custodial sentences are certainly something to look at, more support in the community rather than within prisons is something we have to look at. There will of course still be women who need to be in prison, serious offenders, but I think there is scope to look at that number and I think that number could come down.

Our research shows that nearly 60% of recent offenders who engaged with a community-based alcohol programme did not go on to reoffend in the two years following treatment. Offenders given a community sentence including mental health treatment have also shown to be significantly less likely to reoffend.

I want to go further and make the UK the easiest place in the world to invest in social enterprise.

Introducing a social investment tax relief will make investment even more appealing and accessible.

For the offenders completing these short sentences whose lives are destabilised, and for society which incurs a heavy financial and social cost, prison simply isn’t working."

Community interest companies are a growing form of regulated social enterprises, and we want to make sure that the rules are as friendly as possible for investors and social enterprises.

Many offenders have had immensely difficult upbringings and do not have the support of loving families and friends.

If a candidate believes in a no deal exit, they should be straight with the British people that it will come at a very considerable cost.

Whilst long prison sentences will always be right for those who commit the most serious crimes, particularly of a violent or sexual nature, the fact is that the vast majority of all offenders will at some point be released.

Since 2012, automatic enrolment has brought millions of people into a workplace pension for the first time, thanks to the support of businesses and employees across the UK.

We’ve got an outstanding justice system. Our judiciary are respected around the world. It is a key part of what we are as a country. It’s an area where there is a strong political consensus behind that and perhaps in an era of populism it’s important that we preserve those qualities.