This One should get you Going Tomorrow

[DTCwordfan]

Reference the BBC news on Cameron's dilemma with the European Court of Justice viz. The H of Parliament and the political angle.

Should Prisoners have the right of vote (and in view of the previous thread on this in early November)?

Any suggestions to DC and the Coalition (esp that lover of ethanol, Ken Clarke) on how to balance legal requirement versus the House/Public concerns?

[DTCwordfan]

My feeling too - law versus politics....and from what the Beeb is saying DC's scales are tipping to the latter...........

[eyethenkyew]

No they should not. They forfeit such rights when they transgress and should be made to serve their "time" before they've repaid society.

In the cases of Ian Brady or Peter Sutcliffe, who'd want those t0ssers voting for them anyway? (Probably any desperate politico!)

[Oneeyedvic]

For those people who have long sentences, they are outside of the 'normal' system, don't pay tax, don't have access to the normal public services etc so should not be able to vote.

The difficulty is when people have short term sentences - anywhere from a month to 4 years - as these people will potentially be tax payers and be part of normal society at some point during an elected governments term. Therefore (much as I don't like it), I think that these people should have a right to vote.

[Kathyan]

If you are sent to prison, then you should leave your Human Rights at the gate. You can pick them up again on the way out. Funny how prisoners get rights, but their victims don't seem to.

[jake-the-peg]

That's just one of those easy cliches isn't it Kathlyn that just gets repeated when people just can't be bothered to actually think seriously about the issues involved.

Can't recall being denied the vote last time I got burgled - maybe I missed the legislation.

Generally the people who complain most about human rights legislation don't seem to know very much about it.

Human rights fall into 2 categories those that apply to everyone such as the right not to be tirtured etc. and those that only apply to some people.

The right to a familly life doesn't apply to prisoners for example.

The court has taken an interesting perpective in this case that the right to vote should apply to a subsection of prisoners as vic nicely points out.

Personally I disagree, mostly though I think it's a great irrelevance - I can't see that many prisoners giving two hoots about it.

Can't recall the last prison riot over the vote.

It's just a great embaressement for a government that wants to portray itself as tough over crime and tough against the EU.

The European court of Human rights has nothing to do with the EU of course but the Sun is keeping that a secret from it's readership

[youngmafbog]

There is no way prisoners shoudl get the vote.

As France, Belguim and other European states do when thery dont like somethign is stick two fingers up at Bruxelles.

If they dont like it we can leave the EU (Yes Jake we can) but as net contribnuters they would have to take notice.

About time he who pays the piper picksd the tune. At the moment Cameron is showing his yellow streak.

[Ankou]

"Can't recall the last prison riot over the vote"

well can we now expect opportunistic prison protests citing (potentially spurious, but no less valid) violation of human riots ... errr i meant rights.

[Sqad]

Kathyan

<<<f you are sent to prison, then you should leave your Human Rights at the gate. You can pick them up again on the way out.<<

Exactly.....put me down for that "cliche" as well.................it sums my opinion up completely.

[thedaveformula]

Formation of a separate British bill of rights, which does not require withdrawal from the EU.

[modeller]

You can't have domestic laws that overide EU . You can have extra laws but not any that negates the EU.
jake please explain // The European court of Human rights has nothing to do with the EU //

Surely the EU court enforces EU laws . I don't think the court actually makes the laws .
They can recommend them but its the EU which produces them.
That's the trouble once a law is enacted it must be complied with. Therefore if a prisoner is denied a law he/she can sue for compensation . As long as we remain in the EU unless we get an, opt out, we must do as we are told or pay the penalty.
Blair gave away half of our rebate and agreed to all the health and safety and human rights acts that has caused so much trouble. Cameron is as bad and has totally failed to live up to any of his tough promises on the EU.

[McMouse]

<<For those people who have long sentences, they are outside of the 'normal' system, don't pay tax>> To the best of my knowledge tax is paid by prisoners if they have taxable income.

[R1Geezer]

tell the ECHR to take a walk, bl00dy prisoners are already treated better than most pensioners, F*F*S, there must be some, removal of privilidge for being a criminal.