Home -> Law Blog Directory -> International Law Blogs -> prisonlawinsideout

International Law

: prisonlawinsideout

The bullshit house of cards that Jack built

By John Hirst

The bullshit house of cards that Jack built

[Text of a letter in pdf which I am unable to display in its original format for some unknown reason, perhaps because its an image which Blogger does not recognise]

Ministry of Justice The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP

Julie Wright
Deputy Chief Excutive
UNLOCK
35a High Street
Snodland
Kent
ME6 5AJ
10 December 2008

Dear Julie Wright

THE UK GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO THE ECtHR GRAND CHAMBER JUDGMENT IN THE CASE OF HIRST V UK

Thank you for your letter dated November 8 in which you have expressed concerns about the UK Government's delayed response to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment in Hirst v UK (No2)in October 2005.

As you will no doubt be aware, the first stage of the Government's two-part consultation exercise on extending voting rights to convicted prisoners concluded in March 2007. There has been a delay to the timetable originally envisaged for the conduct of that consultation. The Government takes it's duties concerning judgments of the ECtHR seriously. It has an excellent record in this regard. But, as the Court itself acknowledged, there "is a wide margin of appreciation" for states in how to approach this issue. We have to take account of the wide spectrum of opinion within the UK, together with the considerable practical implications for the courts, prison authorities and the conduct of elections. We must arrive at a solution that respects the judgment of the Court while fitting appropriately within the traditions of the UK.

The Government intends to publish the results of the first stage of the consultation on prisoners' voting rights in tandem with the launching of the second stage consultation paper. The Government's position remains clear, it is committed to carrying out this second, more detailed public consultation, to which people holding all shades of opinion, including those who work with offenders on a professional basis, are invited to respond. Following the closure of this stage, the Government will make its final recommendations to Parliament.

I hope that you find this reply helpful.

Yours

Jack Straw

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on December 13, 2008 (boomark / email).