Voting rights for prisoners is unacceptable, say Tory MPS

TORY MPS have labelled the prospect of the Government granting some prisoners voting rights “totally unacceptable” as Theresa May faced a growing rebellion on the issue.

Prisoners sentenced to less than a year in jail and who are let out on day release will be allowed to return home to vote under the plans with David Lidington, the Justice Secretary, reportedly ready to end the existing total ban.

However, such a move will place Mrs May’s Government on a collision course with hardline Conservative MPS who think those who have been jailed should play no role in democracy. The reported move follows a 12-year legal wrangle between the UK and the European Court of Human Rights which has repeatedly ruled that the blanket ban breaches prisoners’ human rights.

Mr Lidington was reported by The Sunday Times to have circulated his proposals to other ministers last week.

Philip Davies, the Conservative MP for Shipley, said: “I am against giving prisoners the vote. Prisoners released on temporary licence are still prisoners.

“They are what they say on the tin: prisoners. I don’t recognise the validity of the court’s decision.” Peter Bone, the Tory MP for Wellingborough, told The Sunday Times: “It’s a bonkers decision.”

David Cameron, the former prime minister, once said that the thought of prisoners being given the vote made him feel “physically sick”.

A Government spokeswoman said: “We do not comment on speculation.”