A line in the sand on Europe: Tory MPs get go-ahead to defy Strasbourg over prisoner votes

From The Mail Online:

By James Chapman and Daniel Martin
Last updated at 10:03 AM on 2nd February 2011
Extraordinary move: David Cameron has decided to give his MPs a free vote on the issue of allowing prisoners the voteExtraordinary move: David Cameron has decided to give his MPs a free vote on the issue of allowing prisoners the vote

Tory MPs are to be given the green light to assert the supremacy of Parliament in a defining battle with the European courts.

David Cameron has accepted he has no chance of persuading Parliament to back demands from Strasbourg to give thousands of prisoners the vote for the first time in 140 years.

In an extraordinary move, the Prime Minister has decided to give his MPs a free vote on the issue – effectively encouraging them to refuse to bow to the European Court of Human Rights.

A defeat would allow the Government to go back to the court in Strasbourg and insist it has tried, but failed to change the law – and that the democratic will of Parliament should prevail.Conservative MPs insist the time has come to draw a ‘line in the sand’ after decades of kow-towing to the European courts.

Government sources say it will be ‘helpful’ if Parliament expresses a clear view on the issue of votes for prisoners and enables ministers to insist on the ‘minimum possible’ change in the law.

Tory whips now expect a ‘thumping’ verdict of defiance when MPs vote on the issue later this month. Backbench MPs are expected to be given a free rein to oppose the proposals, while even ministers will be allowed to abstain.

Government sources confirmed Mr Cameron has decided to allow a free vote on a motion proposed by former Labour home secretary Jack Straw, and former Tory home affairs spokesman David Davis which calls on Parliament to ignore the European judges.

‘That would certainly be consistent with what we have been saying about the House expressing its view on it,’ the Prime Minister’s spokesman said.

The vote engineered by Mr Straw and Mr Davis is symbolic rather than a binding vote on whatever legislation emerges later this year.

However, ministers believe that Parliament expressing its view clearly will strengthen the Government’s hand in a battle with the ECHR.
Former Justice Secretary Jack Straw
Former Shadow Home Secretary David Davis

The motion opposing votes for prisoners,  tabled by former shadow home secretary David Davis and Labour’s former Justice Secretary Jack Straw, is due for debate next Thursday

It may also embolden Tory Eurosceptics who want the Government to take a tougher line on the issue of Europe to make their views known in other areas.

Andrew Griffiths, a Tory MP on the Commons constitutional reform select committee, said: ‘I have received dozens of letters and emails from constituents who are outraged at the thought of giving the vote to prisoners, and one in support, and that was from a convicted murderer.’

The issue is a delicate one within the Coalition, since the Liberal Democrats actively wanted to enfranchise prisoners before the election. The Prime Minister, by contrast, has said the prospect makes him feel physically ill. There is anger among ministers over the handling of the issue by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Attorney General Dominic Grieve.

They were instrumental in proposals unveiled last year to give the vote to criminals serving sentences of four years or less. Anger on the Tory benches has already forced the Coalition to consider lowering the threshold to one year.
Legal action: Prisoners across the country are taking on the Government because it currently denies them the right to voteLegal action: Prisoners across the country are taking on the Government because it currently denies them the right to vote

The Government says it has been forced to legislate to enfranchise convicted criminals after losing a ruling at the Strasbourg court.

Labour held a series of consultations on changing the law but dragged its feet rather than attempting to confront the European rulings. But ministers say they will now face compensation claims worth tens of millions of pounds if they do not respond.

Thousands of prisoners have started legal proceedings against the Government because the law currently denies them a vote.
Time to obey: Former Lord Chancellor Lord Mackay has said that Britain must recognise its obligations under the European Convention on Human RightsTime to obey: Former Lord Chancellor Lord Mackay has said that Britain must recognise its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights

Yesterday it emerged that two Scottish inmates are to complain to ECHR three months after the court warned the Government that it faced huge penalties for failing to give prisoners a vote.

The men, known as Greens and MT, claim that the Government’s proposals will deny them the right to vote in Scottish and Welsh elections in May in clear breach of the ECHR ruling.

Legal experts warned that the Coalition’s referendum on the voting system, also due to take place in May, could be declared illegal, because prisoners will not be able to vote.

One lawyer told MPs that the date of the poll – and that of the Scottish and Welsh elections – might have to be put back until the prisoner votes issues had been sorted out.

Aidan O’Neill QC, an expert on prisoners’ rights, told a Commons committee that the UK was on its final warning from the European Court – and that he had ‘plenty of clients in the wings’ willing to challenge the legality of any elections due to take place.

Former Lord Chancellor Lord Mackay insisted Britain must recognise its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Council. ‘The rule of law requires us to obey these judgments. Politics should be carried on under the rule of law,’ he said.

Opponents point out that 13 signatories to the human rights convention still have blanket voting bans on prisoners.

About Eeyore

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3 Replies to “A line in the sand on Europe: Tory MPs get go-ahead to defy Strasbourg over prisoner votes”

  1. Things like this are going to be what tears the EU apart, each nation in Europe should be able to decide this issue on their own and not have unelected Judges forcing them into doing something the voters don’t want.

  2. German law allows the state to keep dangerous criminal in extended custody even after they have served their time. The European courts have ruled against this practice and the German authorities now have to release these criminals knowing that they will perpetrate a violent crime (murder, rape) within weeks of being released. The German authorities are not accepting this ruling and are now on collision course with the European courts. Maybe Britain and Germany should swap notes.

  3. Looks like there are two nations working to oppose the dictators of the EU, as I keep saying it is unlikely the EU will last out the next decade.