(Source: 'Michael Gove says his Christianity informs his justice policy: 'I believe in redemption' by Harry Farley of Christian Today)
Justice secretary Michael Gove today said his Christian faith informs his prison policies, telling a fellow Conservative MP: "I believe in redemption".
Gove rejected criticism from Philip Davies, a Conservative MP who sits on the justice committee, who said that Gove had "gone native" at his department.
The MP for Shipley questioned the secretary of state for "hanging off every word" of the Howard League for Penal Reform, which Davies described as the "NUT of the justice system".
"When will the secretary of state get back his mojo and actually put the victims of crime at the heart of what he is doing?" Davies asked.
Gove responded by saying:
"I am not sure that MPs on the Opposite [Labour] benches would agree I've become a sandal-wearing muesli-munching vegan vaguester. I think they would probably say I'm the same red in tooth-and-claw blue Tory I have always been," he told Davies.
"It's because I am a Conservative I believe in the rule of law as the foundation stone of our civilisation.
"It's because I'm a Conservative I believe that evil must be punished. But it's also because I'm a Conservative and a Christian that I believe in redemption.
"The purpose of our prison system is to keep people safe by making people better."