Ukip: Prisoner voting a danger to democracy

Allowing prisoners to take part in local and national elections would put a significant block of voters in the hands of the government, Ukip MEP Nigel Farage said.

The European Court of Human Rights' ruling that banning prisoners from voting breached their human rights was a "wholly improper and unwarranted interference in British democracy" he said.

But it was also a "danger to democracy" because in marginal seats, where the prison population was bigger than an opposition MP's majority, the government could be tempted to change prison conditions to ensure prisoners voted its way.

"Clearly, there is a danger to democracy when the government has complete control over the lives of such a significant block of voters in a marginal constituency," he said.

"In such a confined environment, small improvements in conditions can make a rather large difference to the perceptions of the prisoners."