Cell-Block Stand-Up

Last week, we heard that a stand-up comedy course at Whitemoor Prison in Cambridgeshire had been cancelled.

The Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, described it as ‘totally unacceptable.'

His main concern seemed to be that members of the public, or victims of crime, would be offended: ‘What happens inside the prison gates has ramifications outside, on victims and their families, and on taxpayers ... can the recreational, social and educational classes paid for out of taxpayers' money (or otherwise) be justified to the community?'

One of the inmates taking part was said to be a member of al Qaeda.

But isn't a little humour exactly what terrorists need?

What could be more humour-less than deciding your ideology is so important, that people who don't share it have to die?