EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS JUDGEMENT ON VOTING RIGHTS FOR PRISONERS

That this House is concerned at the decision of the European Court of Human Rights to challenge the UK's decision to withdraw the right to vote from most convicted prisoners; notes that the position has been made much worse by the indecision of the previous Government with potential liabilities for compensation rising and case law now further restricting the ability of the Government to maintain the ban for most serious crimes; and calls on the Government to lift the restrictions on prisoners voting to the minimal possible extent within the law, even if that decision has to be defended again in Court.