Voting Eligibility (Prisoners)

Thomas Docherty Excerpts

Thursday 22nd November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

Order. I want to get everybody in and do not want to disappoint anyone, so we need short questions and speedy answers.

[Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) (Lab)]

Many members of the public will believe that this decision is because of the Human Rights Act. As the Lord Chancellor has said very clearly that it is not, will he confirm whether he supports repealing that Act?

[Chris Grayling]

The hon. Gentleman is quite right that the question refers back to the original convention and the structures that have been in place since the 1950s. I support reform of that system and I have been quite clear that I intend on behalf of my party to introduce proposals before the next election. If the whole House decides to adopt those proposals, that will be great. Otherwise, we will fight the campaign on them.