768 cons are poll chancers

768 cons are poll chancers

By KENNY ANGOVE

Published: Today

A TOTAL of 768 Scots prisoners have applied to go on the electoral roll - in a bid to win big compo payouts.

The cons - including paedos, murderers and rapists - put in claims to vote after Euro officials told UK ministers they must give them the right before May's Scottish Parliament poll.

Last night furious politicians blasted applications as just a way to get cash.

Scots Tory MSP Bill Aitken said: "It's ridiculous prisoners are being given the right to vote.

"It's more to do with compensation than wanting to have a say on how the country is run."

Human Rights abuser Bill Aitken

And Labour's justice spokesman Richard Baker added: "It is a cynical bid to try and extract money from hard-pressed taxpayers."

Human Rights abuser Richard Baker

British convicts were banned from voting for 140 years, but in 2005 Europe ruled this was a breach of human rights.

In November, Euro judges ordered Da Vinci Code rapist Robert Greens get £4,200 - after he claimed barring him from elections infringed his human rights.

Last night a Scottish Government spokesman said: "No convicted prisoner will vote in May."