Government rejects calls for prisoners to vote
Downing Street has criticised a European court ruling that prisoners should have the right to vote.
The prime minister’s official spokesman told reporters that people in jail had had lost the “moral authority” to vote. The 1983 Representation of the People Act does not allow convicts to take part in parliamentary and local elections.
The debate on voting rights for prisoners follows a European Court of Human Rights ruling that prisoners should get the right to vote, following a case brought by lifer John Hirst, jailed for manslaughter.
The court said that national governments had the right to use discretion in interpreting the convention but ruled that a blanket ban on inmates voting breaches the “right to free elections”.
Hirst, 53, admitted manslaughter 24 years ago and remains in prison as a result of a parole board judgement, although he is allowed out on day release. He was awarded £8,000 in costs and expenses by the court.
Downing Street criticised the ruling and is now considering whether to appeal against the verdict, delivered on Tuesday.
“It has been the view of successive governments, and this one, that prisoners convicted of a serious enough crime to warrant imprisonment have lost the moral authority to vote – and that gives you a clear indication of what our attitude is,” the No 10 spokesman said.
