North Thanet`s MP, Sir Roger Gale, has today (Wednesday 16th October) welcomed a Supreme Court ruling in respect of UK sovereignty over decisions relating to the rights of prisoners to vote in elections.
 
Speaking at the House of Commons Sir Roger has said:
 
“The Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, has presented the case to the UK Supreme Court in person and has done so with great skill and ultimate success. At Prime Minister`s Question Time today David Cameron underscored his own opposition to the granting of voting rights to those receiving custodial sentences following conviction.
 
At the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg (France) two weeks ago the British delegation was informed by a UK appointed Judge, during a visit to the European Court of Human Rights that he, Judge Paul Mahoney, would “give the vote to axe murderers” and that the issue was “a fleabite” in the context of the UK`s interests. 
 
Today`s judgement shows how out of touch the ECHR is with the strength of British national opinion and with our determination to have our laws passed and enforced in Britain and not in Strasbourg. The issue is not, of course, resolved and it remains to be seen how the ECHR will now react but the position of the UK Court and the UK Parliament could not be clearer: we do not believe that those deprived of liberties following conviction for criminal offences should have all or part of those liberties restored by Europe.”

​

​

​