Downing Street Says » Prisoner Voting

» Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Prisoner Voting

Put that there had been two conflicting Government views today in that the Justice Minister had said that some prisoners would be given the right to vote but that the Prime Minister said that he didn’t see why prisoners should get the vote, the Prime Minister’s Spokeswoman (PMS) said that there would be a debate tomorrow in the House of Commons and an expression would be made by MPs. We were currently talking to legal advisors and we would wait to see what there advice was. The Prime Minister had been clear that we wanted to do as little as possible in terms of the legal obligations that were currently placed upon us by the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Put that the Prime Minister had said today that he didn’t see why prisoners should get the vote, the PMS said that the position hadn’t changed. The Prime Minister had expressed his opinion and we were seeking legal advice.

Asked if the legal advice would change following tomorrow’s debate in the House, the PMS said that she didn’t know and wouldn’t speculate.

Asked if the Prime Minister was intending to vote tomorrow, the PMS said that she didn’t know what the Prime Minister’s plans were, but Ministers would be abstaining.

Asked if the Government would publish the legal advice, the PMS said that it would be in line with the usual process.

Asked if any consideration had been given to compensation payments to prisoners, the PMS said that we had to wait and see what the legal advice was.

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