Today's issue…Prisoner voting rights
Friday, 07 Oct 2005 09:47
An urgent review of the laws banning prisoners from voting has begun after the European Court of Human Rights declared the law breached inmates' rights.
The case was brought by 54-year-old inmate John Hirst, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter in 1980.
He was released on license in May this year but under section three of the Representation of the People Act 1983 is barred from voting in local and national elections.
But after taking his case to the European court, this law has now been found to breach section three of the European Convention on Human Rights – the right to free elections.
The judgment has been welcomed by penal reformers, but many argue that in committing a crime, prisoners forfeit their right to decide their government.
politics.co.uk brings you the key quotes and reaction.