Britain’s poet laureate has slammed Tory attempts to lure her into a “media stunt” propping up their prisoner book ban while refusing talks on the issue with campaigners.

Carol Ann Duffy poured scorn on Justice Secretary Chris Grayling yesterday after his officials rejected calls for face-to-face talks with prison-reform campaigners over the widely reviled policy, which bans prisoners from receiving care packages of books, underwear and other essentials.

Mr Grayling has cited security concerns for the ban, adding that prisoners use their prison’s library collections. Critics say such collections are poorly maintained and prisoners are routinely denied their right to a library visit of at least 30 minutes once a fortnight.