BRIDGWATER MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has spoken out against plans to give prisoners the vote.
MPs have overwhelmingly voted to maintain a ban on convicts taking part in elections, defying demands from the European courts to hand prisoners the vote.
Mr Liddell-Grainger said he was unable to attend the vote in Parliament because of prior commitments, but argued Europe should not dictate UK domestic policy.
He told the Mercury: “Law breakers shouldn’t be law makers. A lot of them have been convicted of serious charges so why should they have the same privileges as we do?”
MPs voted by 234 to 22 – a majority of 212 – to defy a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights that the ban must be overturned.
Dozens of Conservative backbenchers insisted the time had come for Britain to tell unelected Starsbourg judges they had overstepped their authority.
What do you think? Should prisoners be allowed to vote? Should the European Court rule over UK domestic policy? Leave your comments below.
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