Prisons minister Lord James Timpson has resigned ahead of Andy Burnham’s cabinet reshuffle.

The businessman was appointed to the role by Sir Keir Starmer in July 2024 after leaving his job as CEO of his family business, the Timpson Group.

The firm is one of the UK’s largest employers of ex-offenders, and allies hoped he would take a ‘radical’ and ‘innovative’ approach to overhauling the crisis-hit prison system.

During his tenure, Lord Timpson oversaw the controversial release of tens of thousands of inmates as part of efforts to relieve overcrowding. 

Critics will point out that prisons continue to be rife with violence and drug taking, while probation services are overwhelmed and ineffective at cutting reoffending.

In his annual report earlier this month, the outgoing chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor, warned that efforts to reduce demand for drugs and rehabilitate offenders remained inadequate.

He said violence had increased in two-thirds of the men’s prisons he had inspected from April 2025 and March 2026, with a ‘deeply concerning’ rise in serious assaults against prisoners and staff.

But in a statement today, Lord Timpson defended his record and claimed he had left ‘our prisons and probation service in a much healthier and happier state than two years ago’.

Lord Timpson was appointed to the role by Sir Keir Starmer in July 2024 after leaving his job as CEO of his family business, the Timpson Group

He continued: ‘I’m proud to have become the longest-serving minister in this role for 15 years. I’m also proud that 75 per cent of prisons and 90 per cent of probation teams are now performing better than when I started.

‘Self-harm, violence and assaults on staff are all down, and fewer people are leaving prison without a home to go to, a measure of dignity I care about deeply.’

Lord Timpson also pointed to the Women’s Justice Board he set up, saying he ‘believe[s] most women should not be in prison at all’ and ‘diverting them away from custody, helping them with often chaotic, damaged, and addicted lives, is one of the changes I’m proud to have achieved’.

The businessman did not give a reason for resigning. 

A source in the Ministry of Justice told the BBC: ‘We’re gutted he’s going but the new person is going to have their work cut out to get their head round what’s round the corner.’

Lord Timpson is leaving shortly before the Sentencing Act 2026 is enacted in September. 

This will see an expansion of the early release scheme to include those jailed for more than a decade will get out early. 

The Ministry of Justice release programme could mean hundreds of serious criminals being freed in large batches – potentially even on the same day – heightening police fears of a surge of offenders on the streets.

Ministers have set out a timetable that will see 6,000 prisoners walk free, starting in September.

Criminals handed sentences shorter than 18 months will be the first to be freed.

Releases will then ramp up month by month, depending on the length of sentences. Offenders handed more than 12 years in jail – some of the most dangerous criminals in the country – will start to be freed next June.

Tory spokesman Dr Kieran Mullan said: ‘Victims are going to feel like justice has been stolen from them by these plans. We aren’t talking about shoplifters or vandals.

‘We are talking about paedophiles, rapists and seriously violent criminals. Seeing them walk out of prison years early will horrify most victims, and the public as well. The whole programme needs to be stopped.’

On the first day of Labour’s scheme in September 2024, criminals released early were seen celebrating outside jails

Labour’s Sentencing Act, part of a long-term plan to reduce the prison population, allows early release for violent and sexual offenders after serving half their sentence, rather than the current two-thirds.

Other offenders could be freed after serving just a third of the punishment imposed by a court if they demonstrate good behaviour while in jail.

The early-release scheme means a killer jailed for 15 years for manslaughter would be freed after seven and a half years if they are assessed to have behaved well.

Murderers will not be considered because they are given a mandatory life term, with a minimum amount of years they must serve.

Police leaders have warned that the reforms – which also ditch short jail sentences – will unleash a crimewave.

And there is concern among prison and probation chiefs about the impact on victims who will be devastated to learn their attacker is going free years ahead of time.