MPs blast vote plan for rapists and murderers

The Government is expected to confirm formally today that it will comply with a 2004 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights which ruled the UK's blanket ban on sentenced prisoners voting was illegal.

Political Reform Minister Mark Harper told MPs yesterday that a change in the law "isn't a choice; it's a legal obligation" and warned any further delay could cost taxpayers millions of pounds.

But he strongly hinted the Government will exclude the worst offenders from ballots.

Mr Harper was hauled before the House of Commons to explain the Government's intentions after reports Ministers were poised to end the 140-year-old ban, which applies to more than 70,000 prisoners.

MPs challenged him to rule out the possibility of notorious criminals like Soham murderer Ian Huntley and triple police-killer Harry Roberts being given the vote.

Tory backbencher Gavin Williamson asked: "How is he going to make sure that rapists, murderers and paedophiles aren't going to have a vote?"

The Minister said no decisions had yet been taken on exactly

who would benefit from the change. But he stressed that the ECHR's ruling related to the

blanket nature of the ban and promised MPs that the Government would "take into account" their concerns when framing new laws.

Reports have suggested those serving long sentences could continue to be excluded from the vote and there has been speculation judges might be given the power to withhold when sentencing.

Mr Harper confirmed Prime Minister David Cameron was "exasperated" at having to relax the UK's ban, but insisted the Government had no option but to comply with the ruling of the Strasbourg court.

Since the ECHR found in favour of convicted killer John Hirst, around 1,000 cases have been launched by prisoners. Taxpayers could be faced with litigation costs and compensation totalling millions of pounds if the Government continues to resist them.

He accused the former Labour administration of dragging its feet for five years when it was in power over changes it accepted were inevitable.

"The Prime Minister is exasperated," said Mr Harper. "I think every member in the House is exasperated about this. But we have no choice about complying with the law."

His statement prompted cries of "No!" from the Conservative backbenches. Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard denounced the court ruling as "more legal nonsense from Europe" and Charles Walker (Broxbourne) asked: "What is the point of having a sovereign Parliament if we have to bend down to the European court on this?"

Mr Harper said Britain's signature of the European Convention on Human Rights 60 years ago put it under a "legal obligation" to take account of the court's rulings. Neither the Government nor the opposition was advocating withdrawal from the Convention, he said.

Britain has promised the Council of Europe it will make its intentions clear by a November 30 meeting of its committee of ministers, which previously warned UK general elections might be breaching human rights.

Bobby Cummines, chief executive of former prisoners' charity Unlock, said: "Like it or not, people in prison are part of our society and almost all will be released.

"They should be encouraged to take responsibility for themselves as part of their rehabilitation and part of that means thinking about other people and becoming civically minded."