County's MPs oppose the vote for prisoners - ballot (From Evesham Journal)
Get involved! Send your photos, video, news & views by texting EJ NEWS to 80360 or e-mail us
County's MPs oppose the vote for prisoners - ballot
7:50am Friday 26th October 2012 in News By Tom Edwards
County's MPs oppose the vote for prisoners - ballot
DO you think prisoners should be given the right to vote?
That’s the unpopular policy which could yet be forced on Britain – despite Worcestershire MPs criticising the idea.
The European Court says current UK rules denying convicts a vote breaches human rights legislation, and has given the Government until Thursday, November 22, to respond.
MPs in Worcestershire have criticised the call – and urged David Cameron to continue to resist pressure to change tack.
The Prime Minister said this week he was not willing to comply with the demand, even if it means further court action such as paying compensation to prisoners.
Last year MPs had a vote on it in parliament and opted for a blanket ban, with an overwhelming majority of 212.
Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said: “When you transgress the law, you sacrifice your liberty and human rights for a period of time.
“I’m staggered to think the European Court of Human Rights can suggest anything to the contrary.”
Worcester MP Robin Walker said: “I feel very uneasy about it because it raises the whole issue of sovereignty in this country.
“We had a vote on it and the outcome was very clear indeed. We should have no qualms about sticking to our position on this. We don’t want to be overruled by a European court. There’s no way it should happen.”
Mr Cameron has said the prospect of allowing prisoners a vote makes him “physically sick” – something our county MPs agree with.
West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin said: “Voting is a civic privilege and it is quite right that those punished by society with a prison sentence should lose that privilege while they serve their sentence.”
During Prime Minister’s Questions this week Mr Cameron said he was willing to give MPs a fresh vote on it to make their feelings “absolutely clear”.
It followed comments from Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who said the European ruling means the UK has a “legal obligation” to respond next month.
Comments(13)
katiekins
says...
8:49am Fri 26 Oct 12
High Time
says...
9:54am Fri 26 Oct 12
More Tea Vicar
says...
10:28am Fri 26 Oct 12
It does seem to indicate that some European institutions are designed to deal with issues this country just doesn't have.
stu2010
says...
11:07am Fri 26 Oct 12
waddle
says...
11:11am Fri 26 Oct 12
spanish citizenship and send them to their prisons - ask the prisoners how they fancy that? - and if at the end of all this nonsense uk prisoners get the vote then i demand free sky sports in my house!
daned
says...
11:50am Fri 26 Oct 12
What's the difference?
spider666
says...
8:24pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Biggles
says...
1:37am Sat 27 Oct 12
.
But ....... if we are governed by EU law, then be given the vote they will be, eventually, if that is the majority decision of people within the EU.
.
I do think we imprison far too many people, but I guess that's another subject.
Jabbadad
says...
11:57am Sat 27 Oct 12
Jabbadad
says...
11:57am Sat 27 Oct 12
Mary79
says...
11:53am Wed 31 Oct 12
ushmush83
says...
11:58am Wed 31 Oct 12
Arthur Blenkinsop wrote:Of course it's a right, it certainly isn't a privilige!
Prison is all about the withdrawal of privileges, voting is a privilege and not a right, prisoners should not, IMO, get a vote on anything at all.
How can you expect to integrate people into society if you take away their rights? The problem with most of the inmates, and in fact most of the problem people in this country (re. 2011 riots), is that they are so far removed from society. Give them something constructive to think about, debate upon, and even have an opinion on, you never know, it might help some people get involved and reconnect with the community.
Of course, I see one major problem with this, where would the prisoners elect their MP? If it was where the prison was, that constituency would be elected by the prison community. Not really fair on the law abiding citizens near the prison is it? It would work just fine with a PR set up, but not FPTP. Perhaps some sort of governmental representation for the prison itself? Probably a bit far fetched though.
Arthur Blenkinsop says...
8:06am Fri 26 Oct 12