This in from Andrew Turner’s office in their own words last night. Ed
Andrew Turner, the Island’s MP, yesterday voted against proposals to change the law to give prisoners the right to vote. Under the Forfeiture Act of 1870, a convicted criminal who breaks their contract with society by committing a crime is refused the right to participate in the democratic process.
However, following a decision taken in the European Court of Human Rights, in which a convicted murderer successfully appealed against this law, the Government has been told that refusing prisoners the right to vote is against the European Convention on Human Rights, of which the United Kingdom is a signatory.
In a vote in the House of Commons last night, Mr Turner was among a majority of 212 MPs who voted against the European Court’s decision.
Those who break law should not have extra rights
He hopes that this vote will act as a clear indication to the Government that the British people do not want to see those who break the law given extra rights.
Mr Turner also sponsored an amendment which would deny the compensation to prisoners who were unable to vote, but the amendment was not voted on.
Following the debate, Mr Turner said, “People who have committed a crime serious enough to be deprived of their liberty should not be allowed to vote; I do not believe they should have the same rights as those who respect the rule of law.”
Mr Turner firmly believes that the Parliament of the United Kingdom should be the only body that can make the laws that affect British citizens. He does not believe that a foreign court in Strasbourg and it’s judges should be able to direct that a British law must change and stated,
“The sooner we pull out of the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights, dump the Human Rights Act, and have our own British Human Rights Act the better.”
Image: phill55188 under CC BY 2.0
