''Conservatives all over the country endorse the decision of MPs to refuse to give votes to serving prisoners'' says Ken Hind Senior Vice Chairman Ribble Valley Conservatives .
''The European Court of Human Rights which made the decison is seriously out of step with public thinking and has opened a door in which convicted prisoners ,the vast majority who would never have considered voting in any event, can receive large payouts of damages from the taxpayer, for failing to allow them to vote.
''In 35 years as a practising criminal lawyer none of my clients have ever complained to me that they will be deprived of the right to take part in council elections if they are sent to prison. It is something that is not on their radar. Loss of democratic rights is part of the punishment for offending against society's Laws.
''The European Court has considered this issue in the light of states that may use their powers to deprive political opponents of the right to take part in elections and vote by sending them to prison . This is not the case in a democratic state which complies with the requirement to be a stable democracy in order to be an E U member. The European Court failed to identify the difference between a liberal democracy like ours and an autocratic state with a poor human rights record- So drug dealers burglars bank robbers and rapists are classed with those who offended against an autocratic state in order to achieve democracy.
''Parliament should consider using the power of derogation in other words specifically deciding not to implement this decision of the Court of Human Rights, and setting up a stable democracy test within UK Law to avoid this matter going any further.
''Local councils such as Ribble Valley Borough Council who administer local elections, will find that there is a high cost attached to finding and providing serving prisoners with ballot papers. Many serving prisoners in any event are homeless so where do they vote?
'' At a time of economic prudence I find it an insult as a local councillor that I should vote money to providing a convicted rapist with the vote but cut back on free buses for pensioners and reduction in waste recycling centres.
''It is time that the Westminster politicians took a serious look at the decisions of extra territorial bodies that can over rule the wishes of the citizens of the UK and exercise their powers to dereogate as they have done for many years over terrorism laws .''