Neil Gray: “There has been no veto.”

However, we must also have capacity there in the prison system to ensure that we are still capable of incarcerating those who pose the most significant risk to society.

I’ve led enough pay talks in my time to know that people commenting outside do not help those getting round the table.

This is going to be a complex area. It’s going to be difficult to deliver. It is a substantial reform and change – one that is necessary and that I support.

But I don’t underestimate the challenge here in doing so.