This case has been a prime example of what happens when unaccountable institutions have power. The ECHR not only is not listening to the wishes of a democratically elected Parliament but is telling that Parliament in effect what laws it should pass and in what time frame:
Tory MP Dominic Raab called it shocking arrogance:The court also demanded the right to fix the Parliamentary timetable for introducing the legislation.
If the Government does not bring forward new laws within six months, European judges will begin ordering the payment of an estimated £150million in compensation to killers, rapists and other prisoners.
‘It is shocking arrogance for the Strasbourg Court to dismiss the legitimate concerns of Britain’s elected law-makers without even listening to the arguments.It's hard to disagree. If seeing our elected Parliament bossed around like this by an unaccountable body is not a reason for a revolution then I'm not sure what is.
It'll be interesting to see what Cameron does. I do actually believe Cameron when he says wants to resist this measure. Not because he doesn't want prisoners to have the right to vote - he probably doesn't give two hoots about that - nor does he want to stand up to Europe, however on this deeply unpopular issue he knows, as well as we do, that capitulation will ironically hasten our exit. It's no coincidence that since this subject cropped up last year that UKIP national membership has experienced a very significant increase.
What really makes Cameron 'physically sick' is thought that he may be the one that helps our exit from his beloved EU project.
"It'll be interesting to see what Cameron does. I do actually believe Cameron when he says wants to resist this measure. Not because he doesn't want prisoners to have the right to vote - he probably doesn't give two hoots about that - nor does he want to stand up to Europe, however on this deeply unpopular issue he knows, as well as we do, that capitulation will ironically hasten our exit. It's no coincidence that since this subject cropped up last year that UKIP national membership has experienced a very significant increase."
ReplyDeleteWhat is the betting that it goes through in one form or another. Under some guise to which he has no defence, under some treaty or other. He will be on a damage limitation operation to accept this while spinning how his hands are tied by a previous government to which he is now bound.
TBF: Interesting to note that the UK has been given a 'cell-by' date of 6 months to change our law........
ReplyDelete@defender I've no doubt that in one form or another some prisoners will be granted the right to vote, which will then be extended again and again via new ECHR judgements until they all have it.
ReplyDeleteBut I do think Cameron will try to resist it as long as humanly possible because the issue threatens our relationship with Europe and Cameron is desperate to remain 'in'.
@WfW I'm ashamed to say your pun made I laugh :-)
I think Cameron is genuinely opposed to it, and knows that most of his supporters are viscerally opposed to it, but as far as he's concerned, doing anything about it would be much too hard. But not doing anything about it will be nearly as hard.
ReplyDeleteHe'll go along with it and face the consequences that brings rather than have a serious confrontation with the European Project.
Were he genuinely a Eurosceptic underneath (which of course we know he is not) this would be the excuse he needed.