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Prisoner vote consultation begins | Prisoner vote consultation begins |
(about 6 hours later) | |
The government is to begin a consultation process to decide whether to give prisoners the right to vote. | The government is to begin a consultation process to decide whether to give prisoners the right to vote. |
If supported, it could mean inmates would become part of the electorate for the first time in British history. | If supported, it could mean inmates would become part of the electorate for the first time in British history. |
The move follows a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights which found a blanket ban on prisoners voting was a breach of their human rights. | The move follows a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights which found a blanket ban on prisoners voting was a breach of their human rights. |
Crime reduction charity, Nacro, has welcomed the move. It said "barring prisoners is wrong on principle". | |
Every other western European country already gives some prisoners the right to vote. | Every other western European country already gives some prisoners the right to vote. |
BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said ministers were aware the move was likely to be unpopular and politically awkward. | BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said ministers were aware the move was likely to be unpopular and politically awkward. |
Law change | Law change |
Our correspondent said Britain has always complied with European Court rulings and ministers felt they had to seek a change in the law. | |
The hope was that following the consultation, legislation could be introduced to give the vote to prisoners serving shorter sentences of between three and six months, he said. | The hope was that following the consultation, legislation could be introduced to give the vote to prisoners serving shorter sentences of between three and six months, he said. |
The current UK law dates back to the Forfeiture Act of 1870 which is based on the notion of civic death, a punishment which involves the withdrawal of citizenship rights. | The current UK law dates back to the Forfeiture Act of 1870 which is based on the notion of civic death, a punishment which involves the withdrawal of citizenship rights. |
A campaign group called Barred from Voting, set up by the Prison Reform Trust, has been pressing for a review of the law. | A campaign group called Barred from Voting, set up by the Prison Reform Trust, has been pressing for a review of the law. |
Among its supporters are former Conservative home secretary Lord Douglas Hurd, Liberal Democrat president Simon Hughes and Labour peer Baroness Kennedy QC. | Among its supporters are former Conservative home secretary Lord Douglas Hurd, Liberal Democrat president Simon Hughes and Labour peer Baroness Kennedy QC. |
They argue that a ban on prisoners voting does nothing to deter them from crime and that voting is an "inalienable human right". | They argue that a ban on prisoners voting does nothing to deter them from crime and that voting is an "inalienable human right". |
Paul Cavadino, Nacro's chief executive, said: "Depriving prisoners of the vote contradicts the aim of rehabilitating offenders. | |
"If we want prisoners to become morally responsible citizens, it makes no sense to refuse them the responsibility of exercising the vote." | |
But opponents say those excluded from society should not have a say over the way it is governed. | But opponents say those excluded from society should not have a say over the way it is governed. |
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