Nick Clegg's press team in the slow lane
Someone on the ball...
Bob has responded more swiftly than Nick Clegg's press team...
Bob Piper says it is disgraceful.
Notes for editors:
email 14.07 to chris.mcbride@libdems.org.uk
Hi Chris
Further to our phone conversation.
In the light of this row http://jailhouselawyersblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/labours-votes-for-paedophiles-leaflet.html
and the Lib Dems response...
And this case by the ECtHR on 8 April 2010 http://jailhouselawyersblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/european-court-all-prisoners-must-now.html
Particularly in relation to paras 28, 34 and 35
Disenfranchisement may only be envisaged for a rather narrowly defined group of offenders serving a lengthy term of imprisonment; there should be a direct link between the facts on which a conviction is based and the sanction of disenfranchisement; and such a measure should preferably be imposed not by operation of a law but by the decision of a judge following judicial proceedings
there must be a link between the offence committed and issues relating to elections and democratic institutions
The essential purpose of these criteria is to establish disenfranchisement as an exception even in the case of convicted prisoners
It is clear from this judgment that the only prisoners who can be disenfranchised are those convicted of offences related to the electoral process. Therefore, do the Lib Dems now intend to amend their previous view that the likes of murderers, rapists and paedophiles should not get the vote?
Best wishes
John Hirst
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
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