Revealed: votes for prisoners and the role of Northants MPs
The issue of giving the vote to prisoners is shaping up to be the first big political row of the year and it's all down to a couple of Northamptonshire MPs.
The issue became a major talking point (and a potential crisis for the Government) when Labour's Jack Straw and the Conservative David Davis joined together to demand a full Commons debate on the issue.
This blog can reveal that their intervention was brought about by the MP for Kettering, , and his neigbouring colleague , the MP for Wellingborough.
Last week Philip Hollobone secured a Westminster Hall debate on the issue which was well attended - largely by angry Conservatives.
"Many people up and down the land are furious that once again the Government seems to be bending over to the human rights lobby," said Mr Hollobone.
"Here's a golden opportunity for the Coaltion to say 'we're going to put Britain first'. If we have to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights let's possibly do so. That would have a lot of support in the country."
During the debate Peter Bone expressed his frustration that this issue was not being debated on the main floor of the Commons.
We understand that after the debate Mr Bone, who is also a member of the backbench business committee, spoke with David Davis and Jack Straw, pointing out the strength of opposition displayed during Mr Hollobone's debate and persuading them to push for a full debate.
This they did a few days later.
Mr Bone will only admit to having had 'discussions' with Mr Davis and lays the credit for the Straw/Davis intervention at the door of Mr Hollobone for organising the Westminster Hall debate in the first place.
But another MP closely connected to the issue told us 'it was all down to Peter'.
Both Mr Bone and Mr Hollobone are on the right of the Conservative Party and both hold very firm euro-sceptic views.
Giving prisoners the right to vote is, they believe, a step too far. The fact that the move has been forced on the Government by the European Court of Human Rights just adds more grist to the mill.
They make no apology for speaking out.
And if the Government is forced into making further concessions or climbing down altogether over this issue it will be thanks very largely to the actions of Messrs Bone and Hollobone.
Welcome to the political blog for the East. I'm Deborah McGurran, the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's Political Editor for the region. From Lowestoft to Luton, this is the place for politics with an eastern twist.
Comment number 1.
At 22nd Jan 2011, melih wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 2.
At 22nd Jan 2011, RWWCardiff wrote:This is turning into a real can of worms. As somebody else has already pointed out, if they do get the vote which constituency will they be voting in? Where that particular prison is? Their home town? What if they haven't one and were not on any electoral register anywhere? The more you look at it the more the potential for antagonism grows.
Regards, etc.
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