PRISONS Minister Rory Stewart has angered staff by claiming that the level of violence in Britain’s jails is “looking reasonably positive.”

Mr Stewart has promised to resign in August if violence in 10 prisons across England and Wales has not fallen by then.

He stood by his pledge in Parliament today but claimed that, in the “majority of these prisons, it looks as though violence is coming down, so you may be in the unfortunate position of still having me at this despatch box in a few months’ time.”