Serving prisoners are set to get the vote for the first time as ministers cave in to European judges
Tory MPs slammed the proposal to let prisoners who are on licence vote in elections
THE JUSTICE Secretary is preparing to cave into Euro judges – and give prisoners the vote for the first time.
Furious Tories let rip yesterday as it emerged David Lidington plans to give the vote to lags allowed out on day release.
Backbencher Philip Davies said the move was “unacceptable” and vowed to try and block the decision if put before the Commons.
Under Ministry of Justice plans, prisoners who allowed out on temporary licence to perform community service will be allowed to vote if they are still on the electoral role.
Prisoners serving time INSIDE a jail will still be barred.
Britain is expected to table the proposal to an EU Council Committee of Ministers in December.
It follows a bitter 12-year dispute with the European Court of Human Rights – who insist it is wrong to denying prisoners the vote.
Sources yesterday claimed the concession may apply to as little as 100 lags out of the 86,000 in the prison network.
One insider said: “The hope is that by offering this, Europe will then put the matter to rest and move on.”
But Tory backbencher Peter Bone branded the move “bonkers”.
He said: “I’m not in favour of letting prisoners vote. I find it extraordinary.
“I think a lot of MPs will be concerned by this.”
Philip Davies told The Sun: “Prisoners let out on day release are still prisoners. The idea they may somehow not be prisoners is completely wrong.
“This is unacceptable and when it comes to a vote before the House I will voting against it and I imagine the Government may struggle to get it through.”
Former PM David Cameron in 2010 said the idea of giving prisoners the vote made him “physically ill”.
But at the time he warned the UK had no choice but to lift the bank because of the potential cost of defying it.
Tory insiders insisted two years that European ministers had agreed to kick the issue into the long grass.
At the time, Human Rights Minister Dominic Raab – now Justice Minister – said: “We have made clear there’s no realistic prospect of lifting the ban on prisoner voting for the foreseeable future. It’s a matter of democratic principle.”
A Government spokesman said: “We do not comment on speculation. Our policy on prisoner voting is well established – it remains a matter for the UK to determine and offenders in prison cannot vote.”
