9 years ago
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
David Cameron vows to defy European Court and block demand to give prisoners the right to vote
David Cameron today insisted prisoners will not get to vote under this government, as the UK government prepares for another stand off with the European Court of Human Rights,
The Prime Minister defied his Attorney General and held out the prospect of asking MPs to block the idea again, after the European Court ruling that Britain's blanket ban on prisoners voting breaches their human rights.
Ministers have to respond to the ruling by November 22 or face further action by the court, including the possibility of being ordered to pay compensation to prisoners.
The Ministry of Justice last night denied reports that ministers were planning a draft Bill next month which would give some prisoners in British jails the vote.
Mr Cameron said at Prime Minister's Questions: 'The House of Commons has voted against prisoners having the vote, I don't want prisoners to have the vote and they shouldn't get the vote and I'm very clear about that.
'If it helps by having another vote in Parliament on another resolution to make absolutely clear, to help put the legal position beyond doubt, I am very happy to do that.
'But no one should be in any doubt, prisoners are not getting the vote under this government.'
But Attorney General Dominic Grieve today said the ECHR ruling against the blanket ban 'imposes an international legal obligation on us'.
Labour accused the government of 'sheer confusion' over the policy.
In February last year MPs called by an overwhelming margin of 234 to 22 for the blanket ban to be maintained rather than eased in line with the ECHR judgment.
That motion was not binding on the Government, but Mr Cameron signalled that he was ready to hold another vote.
The Premier has previously said the idea of giving prisoners the vote makes him feel 'physically sick', and any move in that direction would provoke a furious Tory backlash.
But the Guardian claimed last night that ministers are secretly planning to publish draft legislation just days after the police commissioner elections on 17 November.
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