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Sunday, October 11, 2009

Jack Straw in did I say that...

Jack Straw in did I say that...

Compare

"Students of ‘Yes Minister’ will recall that civil servants believe that the best way of putting a minister off a policy is to describe it as ‘courageous’. I disagree. To me this means rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck into something new, challenging and maybe uncomfortable – but getting stuck into something that is the right thing to do. That, I suggest, is where we are now. That too is what the public expect of us".

And contrast...

"Jack Straw is to delay legal changes that will allow prisoners to vote until after the general election.

The Ministry of Justice is expected to announce its final plans over the coming months for giving the vote to inmates, after a public consultation.

The move follows a ruling in the European Court of Human Rights that Britain's ban is an unlawful breach of the right to take part in free elections.

The Justice Secretary, who is opposed to changing the law, is understood to believe there is no urgency to comply with the ruling issued five years ago. He plans to ensure there is no change ahead of polling day, expected next May.

"Complying with European rulings that effectively grant extra rights is not as important as responding in other cases," said a source close to Mr Straw. "We are consulting on this, but will not be rushing to make any decisions."

This will also avoid potentially unpopular and politically damaging reform in the run-up to the election. But it will infuriate penal reform campaigners as well as the Liberal Democrats, who support a change in the law".

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