Parliament set to defy Europe on prisoners votes
MPs are expected to stick two fingers up at the European Court of Human Rights this afternoon by voting against a ruling that would see prisoners given the right to vote.
Backbenchers have been granted a free vote on the issue by the government and are expected to vote overwhelmingly in favour of the motion put down by Jack Straw and David Davies.
The court recently ruled that Britain was breaking the law by maintaining a blanket ban on letting prisoners vote in elections.
Justice secretary Ken Clarke has warned that while MPs may find it distasteful, the government has no choice but to adhere to the law or face paying out millions of pounds in compensation claims.
While the Commons debates whether prisoners should be able to vote in elections two former MPs are set to find out whether they will be thrown behind bars.
Former Labour MP Eric Illsey is expected to be sentenced today after being convicted of fraud related to his parliamentary expense claims while a jury is still considering the case of another ex-MP, Jim Devine.
As the wrangling continues in the Lords today over the government's plans to hold a referendum on the voting system and slash the number of MPs, the Commons political and constitutional reform will be taking evidence from the Electoral Commission.
The House of Lords extracted further concessions from the government last night when it voted to give the Boundary Commission greater flexibility over the size of proposed new constituencies.
Peers are also set to question the government on the controversial use of £1.85m of overseas aid money to fund the visit of the Pope to Britain.
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