Next debate - Thur 11 Nov: This House would give all Prisoners the Vote

DATE: Thursday, 11 November 2010

TIME: 7.30pm - 9.30pm

VENUE: Harcourt Arms, 32 Harcourt Street, W1H 4HX

MOTION: This House would give all Prisoners the Vote

Like Lords, the mentally ill and the Queen, prisoners have no right to vote in Britain. It is just one of a number of rights (including the right to freedom of movement) that is taken away from prisoners as part of the action of the justice system against them for their crimes. However the European Court of Human Rights has recently ruled that the removal of the right to vote breaches prisoners' human rights and therefore must be reinstated.

Is the judgement of the ECHR correct? Is the right to vote so fundamental that it shouldn't be taken away? Will it help criminals rehabilitate? Does someone who has stepped outside the bounds of society deserve to have a say in how it is run?

Who is right? You decide.

Further reading:

Guardian: Prisoners to get the right to vote

BBC: Q&A UK prisoners' right to vote

Telegraph: Prisoners' right to vote behind bars 'should be restricted', say ministers

Prison Reform Trust: The right to vote for sentenced prisoners

Criminal Justice Alliance: Sep.09 response to Ministry of Justice consultation paper

There will be four speakers in this debate, each of whom will have five minutes to make their case. After that there will be an extensive Q&A session to allow the audience plenty of time to have their own say from the floor. The motion will then be put to a vote.

There's always plenty of time to grab a drink and get settled before the event starts and we always stick around for a few more once it's over as inevitably that is always when the real debating begins.

If you have any questions or need any more information, do not hesitate to email us at central.debating@gmail.com.

Getting there:

If you would like to watch this debate, then simply come along on the night. You will find us in the upstairs dining room of the Harcourt Arms pub at 32, Harcourt Street W1H 4HX (a max 1o min walk from Baker St tube). For directions, see this map.

Admission:

Admission is, as ever, totally free of charge. All are welcome, so if you know anyone who might be interested in this debate, do feel free to bring them along.

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Best wishes
CLDS