Outrage that any prisoner should get the vote - ECHR has been a disaster for Scotland

Convicted murderer George McGeoch, who is still behind bars, has gone to court in a bid to win his right to vote in the Scottish Parliament election.

John Lamont, Scottish Conservative Justice Spokesperson, said:

"It is an outrage that any prisoner should get the vote. Those who commit crimes against society and are behind bars should forfeit the right to partake in the democratic process. Put simply, the freedom to participate in electing law makers should not be given to law breakers.

"Make no mistake, Labour's decision to incorporate ECHR into the Scotland Act has been a disaster. It has given us the slopping out fiasco, the controversial Cadder ruling, cost us millions of pounds in other prisoner compensation claims and now this. Frankly, an apology from them would not go amiss.

"We know the SNP and Lib Dems wanted to take ECHR further, which would have had even more profound consequences. And everyone should remember that the SNP don't want to send many criminals to jail – under Alex Salmond's plans most law-breakers will be free to vote anyway. As the party of soft-touch Scotland, the SNP will be delighted at the prospect of criminals flocking to vote for them."

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