Prisoner vote outrage: Labour should apologise for getting us into this mess

The UK Government has been warned by legal experts that it may have to allow prisoners to vote in May's Holyrood elections or face a string of expensive compensation claims.

Labour's decision to incorporate ECHR into the 1998 Scotland Act looks set to have disastrous and far-reaching consequences for Scotland's justice system. An apology from them would not go amiss.

John Lamont MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, said:

"This is hugely disappointing news. 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.

"This is another tough decision ducked by Labour in government and left to the Conservatives to mop up. We wish all prisoners could be denied the vote, but the European court ruling looks like it has left Britain – and Scotland – with no choice.

"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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