Europe warns the UK

Europe warns the UK

Prison votes backlash: Fury as Europe tells us it is 'deeply disappointed' after our MPs take historic decision to reject ruling by human rights court

"The body that oversees European human rights law angered MPs last night by attacking their decision to reject demands to give prisoners the vote.

The Council of Europe said it was ‘deeply disappointed’ by the defiance of Parliament and had expected better from one of Europe’s oldest democracies, which it said must ‘abide by its international obligations’.

Despite the outburst, David Cameron told colleagues he would rather pay compensation to prisoners banned from voting than try to pass legislation that had no chance of getting through the Commons".

1. David Cameron would not pay the £270m compensation personally because the taxpayers will have to foot the bill!

2. There is no need to try to pass legislation through the Commons. This can be bypassed quite easily by Kenneth Clarke making a remedial order under s.10 of the HRA 1998 to amend s.3 of ROPA 1983 and laying it before Parliament. Sorted. Simples.