Coroners and Justice Bill

I express my strong support for what has been said by the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, and my noble friend Lord Lester, and everybody else who has spoken in this debate, with the obvious exception of the noble Lord, Lord Henley. Of course, we are not suggesting that all prisoners ought to be given the right to vote, but it seems plain that there is a strong argument that, for example, prisoners approaching the end of their sentences should be allowed to vote and consider the political issues facing him or her and the country when they become free again. Allowing them to vote in those circumstances could be part of their rehabilitation as citizens of the country. In those circumstances, I believe that there is absolutely no argument for saying that the present status quo of no prisoner ever being allowed to vote while being in prison should continue.