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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that prisoners shouldn't have the right to vote?

128 replies

LadyOfTheManor · 10/02/2011 20:51

Blah blah blah human rights. Surely they gave up their human rights when they committed anti-civilised/social crimes?

The EU courts are putting pressure on...I think it's ridiculous. They shouldn't have a say of how society is treated when they have been purposefully removed from it.

I say we make voting "legal" for them. But deny them the right to leave the prison in order to do it. Surely that would work?

OP posts:
Hullygully · 10/02/2011 21:48

Lady - I see you are a born again Christian.

Your views are hardly consistent with Jesus' teachings. Weird.

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 10/02/2011 21:49

Well the Bible speaks against voting full stop.

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 10/02/2011 21:54

Lots of 16/17/18 year olds are interested in politics

and no I don't think prisoners should lose their right to vote

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 10/02/2011 21:56

I don't associate with many but I remember in school it wasn't like that.

Interesting, why do you believe they should hold on to perk when they are stripped of everything else?

OP posts:
MsHighwater · 10/02/2011 21:56

I can't get worked up about the prospect of (some) prisoners getting the right to vote.

I found myself in the slightly unsettling position of agreeing with John Prescott today when I heard him on the radio saying that this issue is more about opposition to the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights (or whatever it's called) into British Law. I'd far rather retain the protection that I, and all of us, enjoy as a result of that than get het up about some (relatively) minor criminals, who just happen to be in prison at the time of the election (as opposed to those who are on the outside at the same time), being allowed to vote.

hifi · 10/02/2011 21:57

i doubt many of them would vote anyway.

greedychops · 10/02/2011 21:57

I tend to think that Nelson Mandela speaks a lot of sense, and he is against all prisoners losing the vote. I'd tend to agree with him.

Was also surprised to see just how many other countries allow at least some prisoners to vote. Seems like we are the strictest compared to similar European countries. Not a fan of being the least pro-democratic.

Hullygully · 10/02/2011 22:00

Voting isn't a perk. It's a right and a responsibility.

maighdlin · 10/02/2011 22:01

Personally i don't think they should get but looking at from a legal point of view they should. Human rights are given to you on the basis that you are a human. It has nothing to do with personal circumstances. Your are a human and therefore should have human rights. Human rights have nothing to do with food or shelter or anything like that, there are some rights depending on your country for that but not human rights. The UK is bound by decisions of the ECtHR. If the govt chooses to ignore the ruling, then what's to stop them ignoring an other one? If the court has found that denying prisoners of the vote is against their human rights it should be treated the same as an act of torture. By saying that because someone has committed a crime they should have all their human rights taken away from them, can you honestly say that they deserve no protection or freedom? Should convicted murders be tortured or not allowed to practice their religion? It may not be seen as "the same thing" but in human rights law it is. You cannot pick and choose what human rights people should have.

nemofish · 10/02/2011 22:04

I think that you should decide OP whether you think that voting is a perk or a human right? You seem unsure, you have referred to it both ways in your posts.

Personally I think that you are just taking the piss. Hope you are never imprisioned for any transgressions, if so I'm so you will be saying 'please take away my human rights, I don't deserve them.'

nemofish · 10/02/2011 22:05

That should be 'I'm sure' not 'I'm so'

christ I am tired

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 10/02/2011 22:08

I don't believe voting is a human right. We live in a democracy and I believe it is a "perk". I believe that prisoners should be stripped of taking part in society (including voting). If prison is to remove them from society then society should be removed from them.

There is a blurred image of human rights. I think they should be out building hospitals and school for free-or for their board of shelter and food. Most of America has the right idea for a prison (and I don't tend to agree with anything America does).

OP posts:
Trinaluce · 10/02/2011 22:10

Well I have rights to my belongings (so thieves are against my human rights), my person (rapists are against my human rights), my life (murderers are against my human rights), my home (burglars... oh you get the idea....)

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 10/02/2011 22:12

I wasn't implying prisoners deserved to be beaten or raped!

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 10/02/2011 22:12

deserve*

OP posts:
maighdlin · 10/02/2011 22:17

you're not saying that but if you take away one human right you devalue them all and their entire purpose.

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 10/02/2011 22:24

But I don't class voting as a human right.

OP posts:
maighdlin · 10/02/2011 22:26

You may not but under european and international law it is.

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 10/02/2011 22:28

BUt the govt. can dodge this-which from what I heard on Radio 4 they're trying to do. By making it legal but obstructing the ways in which it's done.

OP posts:
huddspur · 10/02/2011 22:28

I think that voting and participating in the political system is a human right and that prisoners should have the right to vote.

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 10/02/2011 22:31

I think prisoners should go and whistle.

OP posts:
maighdlin · 10/02/2011 22:34

thats the issue i have with it. If the govt try and dodge their way around it, then what's to stop them doing it again? there are major sanctions imposed if a country fails to implement european law in their domestic legislation.

Original poster
LadyOfTheManor · 10/02/2011 22:37

Well if the right to vote is allowed. The right to leave prison in order to do so won't be.

OP posts:
maighdlin · 10/02/2011 22:40

i don't think that is an issue as if the right is given votes will be done by post, like for the elderly/infirm.

Aitch · 10/02/2011 22:42

did you bother to think about the questions that i raised, re the potential for bad government to toss you in prison and deprive you of your rights?

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