Law and Rights
Updated 24th May ...
Media Outrage - Much of the popular British media has expressed outrage at the European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber decision in Scoppola v Italy - (discussed in the previous post).
The Daily Mail sees the decision as "Contempt for our democracy" - "European judges rode roughshod over British sovereignty yesterday by ruling that prisoners must be allowed to vote. In a devastating blow, they rejected last year's overwhelming vote by MPs for maintaining our historic blanket ban on voting by convicts. The unelected judges instead gave David Cameron six months to obey their diktat or risk having to pay £150 million in compensation to killers, rapists and other prisoners."
The Express - Prisoners to be given the vote - "The meddling Strasbourg court said a blanket ban on inmates in England and Wales voting was unlawful."
The Sun - "Porridge Votes" - "Fury at Euro Judges as Britain forced to give lags election rights" - "The unelected justices in Strasbourg backed a ruling declaring that
the UK?s blanket ban on lags voting breaches human rights. The decision ? overwhelmingly opposed by MPs from all sides ? could allow killers, rapists and thugs held in jails like London?s Wormwood Scrubs to take part in elections. Senior Tory David Davis said: ?The simple truth is that this is none of their business.?
At least, the Daily Mail has continued its campaign against the government's "secret justice" proposals - "Coroner's Courts are YOUR last defence against a tyrannical State: is that why Cameron wants to make them secret? . (At the time of writing, the actual Bill has yet to be published).
Concerns at home - As readers of this blog will know, there are many concerns about the way our system of justice is heading including the Justice and Security proposals (see here); the removal of legal aid and restrictions on legal aid ( here). Also, the recent Queen's Speech announced plans to greatly increase surveillance of the internet by intelligence agencies and the police (Telegraph 9th May).
These are proposals emanating from within our own government. The European Convention on Human Rights stands as a long stop against national attacks on civil rights and liberty. Even when cases reach Strasbourg, the reality is that few are decided against the UK but, of course, those that are will often attract considerable publicity. Within the British body politic there are those who undoubtedly seek to limit severely the hard fought rights of the British people. These individuals are plausible and clever. Like the snake oil salesman, they operate smoothly. They must not be allowed to prevail.
Background to the European Convention - As a nation, the UK fought, along with Allies, a terrible war at massive national cost against the totalitarian regimes which emerged in Europe and elsewhere. (The war debt of the UK was not repaid until 2006). For me at least, it is a proud fact that, in the aftermath of that war, the UK was a founder State of the Council of Europe and among the first signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights. These actions demonstrated serious commitment to both democratic principles and the rule of law.
A voluntary deal - The UK agreed to be bound by the terms of the European Convention and agreed to abide by judgments of the court when the UK was a party to the case. This is a deal (a treaty) entered into with other nations and it was entered into voluntarily. (The UK could leave the Council of Europe though, in my view, it will not do so). The UK's sovereignty remains intact.
Similarly, the UK freely entered into Protocol 1 Article 3 (Right to free elections). Of course, it is perfectly arguable that Article 3 lacks sufficient detail and, as such, leaves a lot (too much?) of the interpretation to the court. Perhaps the Brighton Conference and resulting Declaration was an opportunity missed by those who dislike the way Article 3 stands?
Implementation - The Westminster political elite must now get on with the serious business of bringing forward a Bill to alter the law to permit some prisoners to vote. All that Strasbourg has said is that a ban on voting must be proportionate to what the individual has been convicted of doing. General, automatic and indiscriminate disenfranchisement of prisoners is incompatible with Protocol 1 Article 3.
As the decision in Scoppola itself decides, the UK has discretion to enact a scheme which will ensure that "killers, rapists and thugs held in jails like London?s Wormwood Scrubs" do NOT take part in elections. A ban in such cases would, as it was with Mr Scoppola, be proportionate. Had the UK not had general, automatic and indiscriminate disenfranchisement of prisoners, Mr Hirst would not have succeeded against the UK in Hirst No2.
Interestingly, it is somewhat ironic for Strasbourg to have effectively approved the Italian rules which are, in some respects, more draconian that those in the UK. In doing this, the court may have unwittingly handed UK politicians an opportunity which some of them may be all too keen to grasp !
It remains to be seen just what the British government will do. There is some indication that they will bring forward a Bill but will seek to delay as long as possible any actual change to the law - The Guardian 24th May. "Ministers believe a concession by the court giving each state discretion on how to implement the ban will allow them to report back every year for an indefinite period on how the process is going."
This course would be, in my view, seriously detrimental to the rule of law. The British government (rightly) expects individuals to abide by court orders and the rule of law requires that governments also abide by decisions of the courts including the European Court of Human Rights.
The responsibility for supervising implementation of judgments rests with the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers. In the case of Greens and M.T. v. the United Kingdom, the court made it clear that the UK Government should bring forward legislative proposals to amend the law within six months of the date on which Greens and M.T. became final. The UK was further required to enact the relevant legislation within a time-frame decided by the Committee of Ministers. Greens and MT became final on 22nd May 2012 - the date of the Scoppola judgment.
The Court indicated in Greens and M.T. that, if the UK Government complied with the time-frame, it would proceed to strike out all the similar pending cases. (There are some 2500 similar cases). In the event that those cases remain live, the UK may well become liable for considerable amounts of money by way of "just satisfaction" to the various applicants.
As for the "unelected Euro judges" - it is true that they are not elected by popular ballot but there is a process of "election" whereby three candidates are put forward and then voted on by the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly where the UK has 18 seats. All members of the assembly are MPs from domestic parliaments. So some of our own MPs vote on which judges to appoint. This is more power than they have with regard to domestic judges. Domestic judges are appointed. (See post on UK Human Rights blog - Unelected Judges dictating our laws etc. etc.).
A post on UK Human Rights blog asks - "Why no public appointment hearings for UK's new European Court of Human Rights judge?" Here, barrister Adam Wagner states:
"The Guardian reported yesterday that ?MPs aiming to claw back powers from Europe have secretly interviewed [my emphasis] candidates to become Britain?s next judge at the European court of human rights?. Oliver Heald MP said that a group of MPs from the three main political parties met the 3 candidates, Raquel Agnello QC, Paul Mahoney and Ben Emmerson QC. The aim is ?to improve democratic accountability?. (See The Guardian 22nd May).
Adam Wagner then pointedly says: "What would really improve democratic accountability is to hold such meetings in public, and broadcast them online."
For appointments to Strasbourg (and maybe elsewhere), that would be a step worth taking in a democracy but, then again, does our political elite really believe that such processes should be transparent to the people?
Other material:
With regard to imminent judicial appointments to the E Ct HR see ECHR blog - Names and CVs of candidate judges for 8 countries
The case for letting prisoners vote - Reuven |Ziegler - UK Human Rights Blog 24th May
- Prisoner Voting
A ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union has upheld a ban on a French convicted murderer who was serving a sentence of more than five years from taking part in the European elections - The Guardian 6th October * See the Court of Justice...
- Parliament ~ Prisoner Voting ~ Evidence From Secretary-general Of The Council Of Europe And The Attorney-general
On Wednesday (6th November) a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament resumed its work considering the draft Prisoner Voting (Eligibility) Bill. The Bill contains 3 options but also notes that there 'will no doubt be other possible options.' ...
- Prisoner Voting
By today, the government was required to bring forward legislative proposals relating to prisoner voting. A DRAFT Bill has been issued - Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Draft Bill The Bill presents three options for reform: Option 1: ban for prisoners...
- Prisoner Voting ~ Strasbourg Has Spoken
Updated 23rd May: As was said in another case, Strasbourg has spoken ! ("Argentoratum locutum" - per Lord Rodger in Home Secretary v AF No.3 at para 98). This time, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has handed down judgment...
- Prisoner Voting - Scoppola V Italy - Will Prisoners Finally Have To Be Granted The Right To Vote?
The European Court of Human Rights has announced that, on 22nd May, the Grand Chamber will hand down judgment in Scoppola v. Italy (N° 3) concerning a prisoner?s right to vote. The case concerns the applicant?s disenfranchisement following his...
Law and Rights
Outrage !! Unelected Euro Judges trampling on our democracy !
Media Outrage - Much of the popular British media has expressed outrage at the European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber decision in Scoppola v Italy - (discussed in the previous post).
The Daily Mail sees the decision as "Contempt for our democracy" - "European judges rode roughshod over British sovereignty yesterday by ruling that prisoners must be allowed to vote. In a devastating blow, they rejected last year's overwhelming vote by MPs for maintaining our historic blanket ban on voting by convicts. The unelected judges instead gave David Cameron six months to obey their diktat or risk having to pay £150 million in compensation to killers, rapists and other prisoners."
The Express - Prisoners to be given the vote - "The meddling Strasbourg court said a blanket ban on inmates in England and Wales voting was unlawful."
The Sun - "Porridge Votes" - "Fury at Euro Judges as Britain forced to give lags election rights" - "The unelected justices in Strasbourg backed a ruling declaring that
the UK?s blanket ban on lags voting breaches human rights. The decision ? overwhelmingly opposed by MPs from all sides ? could allow killers, rapists and thugs held in jails like London?s Wormwood Scrubs to take part in elections. Senior Tory David Davis said: ?The simple truth is that this is none of their business.?
At least, the Daily Mail has continued its campaign against the government's "secret justice" proposals - "Coroner's Courts are YOUR last defence against a tyrannical State: is that why Cameron wants to make them secret? . (At the time of writing, the actual Bill has yet to be published).
Concerns at home - As readers of this blog will know, there are many concerns about the way our system of justice is heading including the Justice and Security proposals (see here); the removal of legal aid and restrictions on legal aid ( here). Also, the recent Queen's Speech announced plans to greatly increase surveillance of the internet by intelligence agencies and the police (Telegraph 9th May).
These are proposals emanating from within our own government. The European Convention on Human Rights stands as a long stop against national attacks on civil rights and liberty. Even when cases reach Strasbourg, the reality is that few are decided against the UK but, of course, those that are will often attract considerable publicity. Within the British body politic there are those who undoubtedly seek to limit severely the hard fought rights of the British people. These individuals are plausible and clever. Like the snake oil salesman, they operate smoothly. They must not be allowed to prevail.
Background to the European Convention - As a nation, the UK fought, along with Allies, a terrible war at massive national cost against the totalitarian regimes which emerged in Europe and elsewhere. (The war debt of the UK was not repaid until 2006). For me at least, it is a proud fact that, in the aftermath of that war, the UK was a founder State of the Council of Europe and among the first signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights. These actions demonstrated serious commitment to both democratic principles and the rule of law.
Similarly, the UK freely entered into Protocol 1 Article 3 (Right to free elections). Of course, it is perfectly arguable that Article 3 lacks sufficient detail and, as such, leaves a lot (too much?) of the interpretation to the court. Perhaps the Brighton Conference and resulting Declaration was an opportunity missed by those who dislike the way Article 3 stands?
Implementation - The Westminster political elite must now get on with the serious business of bringing forward a Bill to alter the law to permit some prisoners to vote. All that Strasbourg has said is that a ban on voting must be proportionate to what the individual has been convicted of doing. General, automatic and indiscriminate disenfranchisement of prisoners is incompatible with Protocol 1 Article 3.
As the decision in Scoppola itself decides, the UK has discretion to enact a scheme which will ensure that "killers, rapists and thugs held in jails like London?s Wormwood Scrubs" do NOT take part in elections. A ban in such cases would, as it was with Mr Scoppola, be proportionate. Had the UK not had general, automatic and indiscriminate disenfranchisement of prisoners, Mr Hirst would not have succeeded against the UK in Hirst No2.
Interestingly, it is somewhat ironic for Strasbourg to have effectively approved the Italian rules which are, in some respects, more draconian that those in the UK. In doing this, the court may have unwittingly handed UK politicians an opportunity which some of them may be all too keen to grasp !
It remains to be seen just what the British government will do. There is some indication that they will bring forward a Bill but will seek to delay as long as possible any actual change to the law - The Guardian 24th May. "Ministers believe a concession by the court giving each state discretion on how to implement the ban will allow them to report back every year for an indefinite period on how the process is going."
This course would be, in my view, seriously detrimental to the rule of law. The British government (rightly) expects individuals to abide by court orders and the rule of law requires that governments also abide by decisions of the courts including the European Court of Human Rights.
The responsibility for supervising implementation of judgments rests with the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers. In the case of Greens and M.T. v. the United Kingdom, the court made it clear that the UK Government should bring forward legislative proposals to amend the law within six months of the date on which Greens and M.T. became final. The UK was further required to enact the relevant legislation within a time-frame decided by the Committee of Ministers. Greens and MT became final on 22nd May 2012 - the date of the Scoppola judgment.
The Court indicated in Greens and M.T. that, if the UK Government complied with the time-frame, it would proceed to strike out all the similar pending cases. (There are some 2500 similar cases). In the event that those cases remain live, the UK may well become liable for considerable amounts of money by way of "just satisfaction" to the various applicants.
 |
| Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly |
A post on UK Human Rights blog asks - "Why no public appointment hearings for UK's new European Court of Human Rights judge?" Here, barrister Adam Wagner states:
"The Guardian reported yesterday that ?MPs aiming to claw back powers from Europe have secretly interviewed [my emphasis] candidates to become Britain?s next judge at the European court of human rights?. Oliver Heald MP said that a group of MPs from the three main political parties met the 3 candidates, Raquel Agnello QC, Paul Mahoney and Ben Emmerson QC. The aim is ?to improve democratic accountability?. (See The Guardian 22nd May).
Adam Wagner then pointedly says: "What would really improve democratic accountability is to hold such meetings in public, and broadcast them online."
For appointments to Strasbourg (and maybe elsewhere), that would be a step worth taking in a democracy but, then again, does our political elite really believe that such processes should be transparent to the people?
Other material:
With regard to imminent judicial appointments to the E Ct HR see ECHR blog - Names and CVs of candidate judges for 8 countries
The case for letting prisoners vote - Reuven |Ziegler - UK Human Rights Blog 24th May
- Prisoner Voting
A ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union has upheld a ban on a French convicted murderer who was serving a sentence of more than five years from taking part in the European elections - The Guardian 6th October * See the Court of Justice...
- Parliament ~ Prisoner Voting ~ Evidence From Secretary-general Of The Council Of Europe And The Attorney-general
On Wednesday (6th November) a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament resumed its work considering the draft Prisoner Voting (Eligibility) Bill. The Bill contains 3 options but also notes that there 'will no doubt be other possible options.' ...
- Prisoner Voting
By today, the government was required to bring forward legislative proposals relating to prisoner voting. A DRAFT Bill has been issued - Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Draft Bill The Bill presents three options for reform: Option 1: ban for prisoners...
- Prisoner Voting ~ Strasbourg Has Spoken
Updated 23rd May: As was said in another case, Strasbourg has spoken ! ("Argentoratum locutum" - per Lord Rodger in Home Secretary v AF No.3 at para 98). This time, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has handed down judgment...
- Prisoner Voting - Scoppola V Italy - Will Prisoners Finally Have To Be Granted The Right To Vote?
The European Court of Human Rights has announced that, on 22nd May, the Grand Chamber will hand down judgment in Scoppola v. Italy (N° 3) concerning a prisoner?s right to vote. The case concerns the applicant?s disenfranchisement following his...