Member News
Ken Clarke has told MPs he has no choice but to allow some prisoners to vote in elections.
Speaking in the Commons this afternoon the justice secretary told MPs that to ignore a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) would expose the taxpayer to millions of pounds worth of compensation claims from prisoners.
Under the proposals prisoners serving up to four years in prison will be able to vote in general elections by proxy or by post in their normal constituency of residence.
Clarke said that the four year threshold was decided upon after receiving legal advice and that it was a "rational line" that was drawn in order to comply with legal obligations
Tory MP James Gray said that the move would mean 6,000 violent offenders, 2,000 sex offenders and 4,500 drug offenders would be able to vote.
The North Wiltshire MP branded the move "wholly offensive and unacceptable" and said it should be Parliament which decided such matters not the ECHR.
Gray called on Clarke to follow the lead of countries such as Belgium and set the threshold at four months rather than four years.
But Clarke warned that the government had to accept the ruling even if it disagreed.
"If he really wishes to really enrage his constituents and mine he will run the risks of thousands of prisoners being given compensation for their lost rights," the justice secretary said.
"We are in government I'm afraid, as I often find myself saying to our Liberal Democrat colleagues, we have to act responsibility whatever our feelings about the wisdom of the decision.
"We have taken legal advice on what is necessary," he said. "No doubt the previous government did too when they suggested a four year margin themselves.
"I urge members not to go too far beyond understandable annoyance and start committing themselves to a course that will cost the taxpayer tens of millions of pounds."
Article Comments
I wonder when they do vote which constituency will they vote in?
Wendy
12th Jan 2011 at 12:57 pm
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.