Eurosceptics fury over prisoner votes prompts latest clash with Cameron

 
Zac Goldsmith
24 October 2012
WEST END FINAL

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Tory MPs reacted with fury after it was claimed the coalition is poised to introduce legislation to give prisoners the vote.

According to the Guardian, ministers are preparing to launch a draft bill to comply with a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

However, a government source told the newspaper that a final decision was unlikely to be taken until late November - after police commissioner elections.

The move would set the stage for a another major showdown between David Cameron and Eurosceptic backbenchers.

The Commons voted by an overwhelming margin of 234 to 22 in February to maintain the blanket ban rather than ease it in line with the judgment.

Although the motion was not binding on the coalition, the Prime Minister indicated he intended to defy the court - saying the idea of allowing prisoners to vote made him "physically ill".

But there are concerns the Government could face a huge compensation bill if it does not bring forward reforms before the ECHR's deadline of the end of November.

Publishing draft proposals, potentially giving the vote to those serving terms under four years, would give ministers breathing space as it would take a long time to reach the statute books.

Government sources played down the speculation, insisting that no decision had yet been taken.

But the reports drew an immediate response from Conservative backbenchers.

Nick de Bois, secretary of the influential 1922 committee, posted on Twitter: "Sitting working with 5 other Cons MPs - if reports of prisoner voting rights are accurate then that's 6 MPs who won't vote for it."

Tory colleague Douglas Carswell added: "Make it 7."

Richmond Park MP Zac Goldmith wrote: "MPs almost unanimously rejected votes for prisoners. If it happens all the same, does that mean the UK Parl officially no longer matters?"

For Labour, shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said the Government needed to make clear what it was planning to do.

"The Tory-led Government's sheer confusion this morning over whether prisoners will or won't get the vote is yet another illustration of the ridiculously shambolic way they are running our country," he said.

"The public will be rightly concerned at reports prisoners could get a vote. If true, thousands of those serving sentences for serious and violent crimes such as wounding, assault and domestic violence would be given a say in who runs the country.

"Instead of the chaos of leaks and spin we've seen this morning, the public deserve the truth about the Government's intentions."

A Government spokeswoman said: "We are considering the implications of the ECHR decision but we're clear that when people go to prison they lose their right to vote."

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