Election Special in North Hull

Election Special in North Hull

It is the day before the General Election. I cannot get over the fact that up to 75,000 convicted prisoners will not be exercising their human right to vote because the government says it is opposed to this. And yet, it was the Labour government which introduced the Human Rights Bill, later passed into law by Parliament as the Human Rights Act 1998. According to Tony Blair: "it stands alongside our decision to put the promotion of human rights at the forefront of our foreign policy".

It would have been more honest if it had been Called the Human Rights (except prisoners) Act.

Or, the Bullshit the Foreigners Act.

Certainly, the Foreign Office has bullshitted the Council of Europe over convicted prisoners and the vote for 5 years.

"For individuals, and for those advising them, the road to Strasbourg is long and hard. Even when they get there, the Convention enforcement machinery is subject to long delays. This might be convenient for a government which was half-hearted about the Convention and the right of individuals to apply under it, since it postpones the moment at which changes in domestic law or practice must be made. But it is not in keeping with the importance which this Government attaches to the observance of basic human rights".

"But it is not in keeping with the importance which this Government attaches to the observance of basic human rights".

Obviously, the government is guilty of continuing to breach convicted prisoners human rights to the vote for 5 years. And, the Council of Europe must accept its share of the blame for allowing the UK to get away with it. Along with the Conservative and Lib Dem parties for not raising the issue in the House of Commons and failing to challenge the government. Finally, society at large must accept its share of the blame for failing to care about convicted prisoners being abused by the State.

I am now able to exercise my human right to the vote.

I don't feel like exercising it, like this blogger, given how convicted prisoners are being denied theirs.

If I do decide to vote, the choice is between Diana Johnson (Labour) and Denis Healy (Lib Dems). It's a marginal constituency.

This morning I saw a 4x4 plastered with Diana Johnson posters, and some of the posters claimed "Denis Healy says vote Labour". Is this honest?

Diana Johnson has said that she only supports some convicted prisoners getting the vote.