Menu
22/11/2012
MPs To Outline Legislation Plan On Prisoner Voting
Ministers will outline plans for legislation on the issue of prisoners being allowed to vote.
The government is responding to a European Court of Human Rights ruling that a blanket ban on prisoners serving custodial sentences voting is unlawful.
MPs voted in February to uphold the ban, and David Cameron has said his government will not extend the vote.
But ministers are said to be trying to find ways to head off a confrontation with the court.
Currently only prisoners on remand are entitled to vote.
The prime minister has said the prospect of enfranchising others makes him "physically ill", and the vast majority of MPs from all parties want to see the blanket ban maintained.
The UK has been on a collision course with Strasbourg since 2005, when the ECHR ruled that the ban was a breach of human rights, following a challenge by convicted killer John Hirst.
In February, MPs voted by 234 to 22 to keep the blanket ban, in response to a government proposal to give the vote to offenders sentenced to a custodial sentence of less than four years.
The coalition subsequently indicated it would respect Parliament's wishes by doing the minimum needed to comply with the ECHR ruling.
(H)
The government is responding to a European Court of Human Rights ruling that a blanket ban on prisoners serving custodial sentences voting is unlawful.
MPs voted in February to uphold the ban, and David Cameron has said his government will not extend the vote.
But ministers are said to be trying to find ways to head off a confrontation with the court.
Currently only prisoners on remand are entitled to vote.
The prime minister has said the prospect of enfranchising others makes him "physically ill", and the vast majority of MPs from all parties want to see the blanket ban maintained.
The UK has been on a collision course with Strasbourg since 2005, when the ECHR ruled that the ban was a breach of human rights, following a challenge by convicted killer John Hirst.
In February, MPs voted by 234 to 22 to keep the blanket ban, in response to a government proposal to give the vote to offenders sentenced to a custodial sentence of less than four years.
The coalition subsequently indicated it would respect Parliament's wishes by doing the minimum needed to comply with the ECHR ruling.
(H)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
15 April 2005
Concerns rise over potential postal vote fraud
Concerns are rising that a dramatic increase in postal voting applications could lead to fraud in the next general election. A Guardian survey of twenty key marginal constituencies indicated that postal voting was “soaring”, with applications in some areas increasing by more than 300% since the last general election in 2001.
Concerns rise over potential postal vote fraud
Concerns are rising that a dramatic increase in postal voting applications could lead to fraud in the next general election. A Guardian survey of twenty key marginal constituencies indicated that postal voting was “soaring”, with applications in some areas increasing by more than 300% since the last general election in 2001.
16 October 2013
Supreme Court Rejects Prisoners Voting Appeal
Court action brought by two prisoners calling for them to be allow to vote has been dismissed by the Supreme Court. Under British law prisoners are not entitled to vote. Convicted murderers Peter Chester and George McGeoch challenged that arguing European Union rules provided a provision for prisoners right to vote.
Supreme Court Rejects Prisoners Voting Appeal
Court action brought by two prisoners calling for them to be allow to vote has been dismissed by the Supreme Court. Under British law prisoners are not entitled to vote. Convicted murderers Peter Chester and George McGeoch challenged that arguing European Union rules provided a provision for prisoners right to vote.
24 April 2003
Local election test ground for e-voting
New ways to vote, including Digital TV, text messaging, touch-tone telephone, internet and voting at electronic kiosks, are set to be piloted in English council elections. This year 17 e-voting pilot schemes are taking place, giving 1.4 million people the opportunity to vote electronically.
Local election test ground for e-voting
New ways to vote, including Digital TV, text messaging, touch-tone telephone, internet and voting at electronic kiosks, are set to be piloted in English council elections. This year 17 e-voting pilot schemes are taking place, giving 1.4 million people the opportunity to vote electronically.
12 March 2015
MPs Pass Plain Packaging Legislation
From May next year cigarette packaging will be standardised in England after MPs voted in favour of the new legislation. Under the new law, which has still to be approved by the House of Lords, all cigarette brands will come in the same packaging, featuring a brand and variety name, alongside health warnings and graphic pictures.
MPs Pass Plain Packaging Legislation
From May next year cigarette packaging will be standardised in England after MPs voted in favour of the new legislation. Under the new law, which has still to be approved by the House of Lords, all cigarette brands will come in the same packaging, featuring a brand and variety name, alongside health warnings and graphic pictures.
22 September 2014
PM Holds Scottish MPs Power Summit
Senior Conservative MPs are to meet with David Cameron to discuss limiting the Commons voting rights of Scottish MPs. The summit is being held at Chequers, with the Prime Minister saying that plans to give Scotland more powers should go "hand-in-hand" with a change to the role of Scottish politicians at Westminster.
PM Holds Scottish MPs Power Summit
Senior Conservative MPs are to meet with David Cameron to discuss limiting the Commons voting rights of Scottish MPs. The summit is being held at Chequers, with the Prime Minister saying that plans to give Scotland more powers should go "hand-in-hand" with a change to the role of Scottish politicians at Westminster.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A dry day with any low cloud and mist clearing during the morning leaving long spells of warm sunshine. Breezy at times around the coast. Maximum temperature 20 °C.Tonight:A fine end to the day with some sunshine, then clear spells overnight. Low cloud could form around some Irish Sea coasts later in the night. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
