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Parliament to be given new vote on prisoner democracy | Parliament to be given new vote on prisoner democracy |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Ministers will give Parliament another vote on whether to give prisoners the vote this week, the BBC understands. | Ministers will give Parliament another vote on whether to give prisoners the vote this week, the BBC understands. |
A government source has told the BBC that MPs will be given a series of options on Thursday. | A government source has told the BBC that MPs will be given a series of options on Thursday. |
Friday is the deadline for Britain to comply with a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that the current blanket ban on prisoners voting is unlawful. | Friday is the deadline for Britain to comply with a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that the current blanket ban on prisoners voting is unlawful. |
The Ministry of Justice said it would not comment on a leak. | The Ministry of Justice said it would not comment on a leak. |
The BBC's Political Correspondent Carole Walker said she understood a draft bill would set out three options: | The BBC's Political Correspondent Carole Walker said she understood a draft bill would set out three options: |
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Our correspondent says the legal implications of flouting the ECHR ruling would be made plain to MPs but for legal reasons ministers will not say which option they back. | Our correspondent says the legal implications of flouting the ECHR ruling would be made plain to MPs but for legal reasons ministers will not say which option they back. |
'Clear' right | 'Clear' right |
In February 2011 the Commons voted overwhelmingly against giving votes to prisoners and there is a risk that this week's vote could set up another clash with the ECHR. | |
Last month David Cameron told the Commons: "No-one should be under any doubt - prisoners are not getting the vote under this government". | Last month David Cameron told the Commons: "No-one should be under any doubt - prisoners are not getting the vote under this government". |
At present, the only prisoners allowed to vote in the UK are those on remand. | |
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, who replaced Ken Clarke in a reshuffle in September, said last month Parliament had a "clear" right not to accept the ECHR ruling. | Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, who replaced Ken Clarke in a reshuffle in September, said last month Parliament had a "clear" right not to accept the ECHR ruling. |
But he added there would be "consequences" for the UK's position in Europe if MPs chose to defy the judgement. | But he added there would be "consequences" for the UK's position in Europe if MPs chose to defy the judgement. |
Attorney General Dominic Grieve has previously warned that defying the Strasbourg court could be seen "as a move away from out strict adherence to human rights laws". | Attorney General Dominic Grieve has previously warned that defying the Strasbourg court could be seen "as a move away from out strict adherence to human rights laws". |
The ECRH ruled in 2005 it was a breach of human rights to deny prisoners a vote. | The ECRH ruled in 2005 it was a breach of human rights to deny prisoners a vote. |
The court said it was up to individual countries to decide which inmates should be denied the right to vote from jail, but that a total ban was illegal. | The court said it was up to individual countries to decide which inmates should be denied the right to vote from jail, but that a total ban was illegal. |