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Prisoner vote bill to be outlined Prisoner vote bill to be outlined
(35 minutes later)
  
The government's draft bill on prisoner voting is to be outlined by the justice secretary on Thursday, the BBC understands.The government's draft bill on prisoner voting is to be outlined by the justice secretary on Thursday, the BBC understands.
Its options could include votes for those serving less than six months, or those serving less than four years.Its options could include votes for those serving less than six months, or those serving less than four years.
Friday is the deadline for the UK to comply with a European ruling that a current blanket ban is unlawful.Friday is the deadline for the UK to comply with a European ruling that a current blanket ban is unlawful.
Sources had told the BBC there would be a vote on Thursday, but a source close to the justice secretary denied this.Sources had told the BBC there would be a vote on Thursday, but a source close to the justice secretary denied this.
The source would not elaborate further on whether MPs will be given a free vote at a later date.The source would not elaborate further on whether MPs will be given a free vote at a later date.
BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said there would be a discussion looking at various options, with the aim of convincing judges in Strasbourg that the government was at least looking at the issues. The court has the power to fine the UK if it feels it is in breach of its rulings.BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said there would be a discussion looking at various options, with the aim of convincing judges in Strasbourg that the government was at least looking at the issues. The court has the power to fine the UK if it feels it is in breach of its rulings.
Our correspondent said it was likely MPs would uphold the ban on prisoner voting, where there is strong cross-party agreement on the issue.Our correspondent said it was likely MPs would uphold the ban on prisoner voting, where there is strong cross-party agreement on the issue.
'Clear' right'Clear' right
Shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said she did not expect MPs to give prisoners the vote. Conservative MP, Sir Edward Garnier, a former solicitor general, said the justice secretary was in a difficult position.
"The government is stuck between its treaty and rule of law obligations to respect the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and the antipathy within parliament to giving prisoners the vote," he said.
"Parliament and the wider general public simply don't want to be told what to do by the European Court of Human Rights, not least in this particular regard."
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said she did not expect MPs to give prisoners the vote.
"If somebody has committed a crime that is serious enough to take away their liberty, then actually for that period they should also be deprived of the right to vote. I think that is sensible, I think that is proportionate, and so I think that has been the view of the House of Commons and I expect that will continue," she said."If somebody has committed a crime that is serious enough to take away their liberty, then actually for that period they should also be deprived of the right to vote. I think that is sensible, I think that is proportionate, and so I think that has been the view of the House of Commons and I expect that will continue," she said.
In February 2011 the Commons voted overwhelmingly against giving votes to prisoners. But Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "Is it wise for the government to flout international law, face a substantial fine and millions in mounting compensation claims, ignore the advice of its attorney general, prison governors, bishops to, and inspectors of, prison, and take up Parliamentary time and taxpayers' money in order to stop sentenced prisoners from acting responsibly by voting in democratic elections?"
Last month David Cameron told the Commons: "No-one should be under any doubt - prisoners are not getting the vote under this government." In February 2011, the Commons voted overwhelmingly against giving votes to prisoners. 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. Last month Prime Minister David Cameron told the Commons: "No-one should be under any doubt - prisoners are not getting the vote under this government."
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, who replaced Ken Clarke in a reshuffle in September, told the BBC Parliament had a "clear" right not to accept the ECHR ruling. Mr Grayling has said Parliament has the right in law to tell the ECHR that it does not accept its ruling, but said there would be "consequences" for the UK's position in Europe if MPs chose to defy the judgment.
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."
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.