Anderson slams Britain's 'affront to democracy' over prisoners right to vote

The British Government's continued refusal to allow prisoners to vote is an “affront to democracy,” Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson has said.

Ms Anderson said Britain was breaching the human rights of more than 1,000 prisoners by denying them the right to vote. 

The European Court of Human Rights found Britain had breached the human rights of inmates for a fourth time by denying them their voting rights.

Ms Anderson said the latest case was brought by 1,015 prisoners who were denied their “democratic right” to vote between 2009 and 2011, including during the last General Election. 

She added: “The British Government cannot continue to ignore the ruling of the court and deny people their basic human rights.  

"As a former political prisoner I believe that all prisoners deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and this includes access to democracy. 

"The continued denial of this right is an affront to democracy and places Britain alongside states with the worst human rights records in the world.”

She concluded: “I am calling on the British Government to recognise the ruling of this court and give prisoners their human rights by allowing them to vote."