UK can decide which prisoners vote, says European Court

[dipsydoodle]

The European Court of Human Rights has said individual governments can decide how to implement a ban on convicted prisoners voting.

The judgement means the UK will be able to decide for itself how to resolve the long-standing row over votes for prisoners.

But the court says the UK only has six months to outline its proposed reforms.

In a landmark judgment the Court found that an Italian prisoner's rights had not been breached.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18157566

[dipsydoodle]

1. Votes for prisoners: Cameron says UK will fight European Court

The prime minister has told MPs he will resist a European court ruling that prisoners should be given the right to vote in UK elections.

David Cameron said the ban on voting from jail "should be a matter for Parliament... and not a foreign court".

Labour has said it will back the prime minister's stance.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18177776

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Since MPs and MEPs can be in prison for up to year without losing their seats

and stand for Parliament if their sentence is less than a year, I think it's only fair that their voters should be able to spend at least a year there too and be able to vote.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Sounds fair on that basis

given that 12 months is unlikely to be for a serious offence anyway.