Votes for more prisoners

[flip_flop]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11671164

Thoughts?

[bazwillrun]

The sooner we leave the EU Superstate the better

[jake-the-peg]

Meh? so what?

What will happen? They'll vote for an abolish prison candidate?

[Gromit]

Too late for Jeffrey Archer and Jonathan Aitkin, sadly.

[zzxxee]

i thought going to prison means takeing away privallages including the right to vote?
pah !!!!!!!!! this country sucks !!!

[andy-hughes]

Voting is not a 'privelidge', it's a right, hence the Court's stance on this.

Serious offenders will have this right suspended in keeping with the severity of their crime and punishment, but punishments do not include removal of democratic rights.

Oh I know, the old "If you want to vote, don't be a criminal ...' argument, but we have to keep a sense or proportion here,

[gadgetgeek]

A bunch of corrupt overpaid cronies saying what we must do in our country, which they will ignore in their own, under the guise of Human Rights. These prisoners lost theirs for the duration of their probably menial sentences whilst the victims have to possibly put up with it for life. Surprised it isn't against their Human Rights not to give Sky TV (HD naturally) per cell. Cell? Locked in? Must be against their rights too. Stupid law enforced by even more stupid people and we let them get away with it! Rant over.

[jake-the-peg]

Hey gadgetgeek

Don't tell me you're another person who thinks that the European Court of human rights is to do with the EU because it has the word European in it?

[Loosehead]

The idea of prison is the the removal of facilities afforded the law abiding. They should not be allowed to vote. Nothing surprises me though, the liberal movement won't be happy until the punishment of criminals is abolished entirely.

[andy-hughes]

EDDIES51 - what is the elctorate except a collectiojn of individual votes?

If we start with the logic - small numbers make no difference, we start erroding the entire principle of democracy. Where do we stop? Eighteen-year-olds know nothing, let's not count their votes?

The entire premise of a democratic voting system is the right to choose how, if at all, to vote.

That right is sacrosanct, and in the case of simple offences, it should not be recninded.

As I understand it - serious offenders, such as rapists and murderers would indeed lose their right to vote, and that is fair.

Everyone else gets a say - that is how any democracy works.

[youngmafbog]

No Jake, but pull out of Europe and the HRA and all other euro dictated things can go with it. So they are indrectly linked.

This is totally wrong. No doubt huge compo claims soon too.

[Zeuhl]

Which constituency would they be in?

The one where the prison is located presumably - or their last 'known address'?

Would their MP have to grant them 'surgery' access?

So the local MP gets drawn into thousands of prison-related complaints

That would be fun!!!
.

[LoftyLottie]

|Zeuhl , I just put a similar answer on another thread on this subject. Good thinking !!! ;o)

[Bobbisox]

I don't get this, they have no rights, they gave them away with their freedom

[LoftyLottie]

No Bobbi, Not true.

Of course they have rights. That is why this change has come about.

[LoftyLottie]

I agree with Andy.

[Bobbisox]

solet me get this straight, the prisoners who murder and rape can excercise how this country is run by casting their vote, I suppose we will have penal reform then.;-)

[LoftyLottie]

Bobbi, read carefully what Andy has written!

[Bobbisox]

sorry LL I should have read that ;-)

[LoftyLottie]

:o)