Prisoners could get to vote under ConDem reform

Prisoners could get to vote under ConDem reform

By James Lyons 8/07/2010

The ConDem coalition is set to spark fury by granting criminals the right to vote from behind bars.

The Labour government refused to bow to demands from the European Court of Human Rights to let lags take part in elections.

Now Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is "looking afresh" at giving prisoners the chance to have their say at the polls.

Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg's decision to take responsibility for the issue from the Ministry of Justice is important because his party backed votes for cons at the last election.

Mark Harper, Mr Clegg's Tory deputy at the Cabinet Office, revealed the ConDem coalition's new approach in a Parliamentary answer.

Labour's Michael Dugher, who tabled the question, seized on his reply as fresh evidence that the ConDems are soft on crime.

He pointed out that ministers want to curb the use of CCTV cameras and destroy DNA records while senior officers have warned police numbers will drop because of savage spending cuts.

Mr Dugher, MP for Barnsley East, said: "Nobody can be surprised that the Lib Dems are championing the rights of criminals but the public will be disgusted to see the Tories going along with it.

"No wonder they want to let those who do end up behind bars take part in the next election - criminals will be queuing up to vote for them.

"David Cameron promised to be tough on crime but his ConDem coalition are cutting police, curbing CCTV cameras and locking up fewer people who are convicted."

Mr Cameron and Labour's acting leader Harriet Harman clashed over police numbers at PM's Questions yesterday.

Ms Harman challenged the PM over election promises, saying: "Your Lib Dem partners said they would have 3,000 more police on the beat. You said you would protect frontline services."

Mr Cameron said "difficult decisions" had to be made but every effort would be made to protect the front line. He added: "I don't believe, when you look at the Home Office budget, there aren't examples of waste."

Comment: I don't know why the Daily Mirror has only just got around to reporting this exchange in the House of Commons...