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Parliament to be given new vote on prisoner democracy Parliament to be given new vote on prisoner democracy
(35 minutes 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. Political correspondent Carole Walker said she understood MPs would consider options, on Thursday, including votes for those serving six months or less and those serving four years or less.
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. A third option on the draft bill would be no votes at all, she added.
The Ministry of Justice said it would not comment on a leak. Friday is the deadline for the UK to comply with a European ruling that a current blanket ban is unlawful.
The BBC's Political Correspondent Carole Walker said she understood a draft bill would set out three options: Our correspondent said the legal implications of flouting the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling would be made plain to MPs but for legal reasons ministers would not say which option they back.
  • Votes for prisoners who have been imprisoned for four years or less.
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  • Votes for prisoners who have been imprisoned for six months or less.
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  • No votes for prisoners at all.
A government source confirmed the new vote to the BBC. The Ministry of Justice said it would not comment on a leak.
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.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.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, told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show last month that 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 warned: "The reality is that we are signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights.
"If we therefore choose to disagree with a ruling from that court, we have to understand that we are taking a significant step outside that international commitment."
He said he was "thinking very carefully about how we do the right thing for the UK".
Attorney General Dominic Grieve has previously warned that defying the Strasbourg court could be seen "as a move away from our 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 our 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.