Minister condemns Lib Dem plan to give votes for prisoners

Lambeth Liberal Democrat Councillors have campaigned to give the vote to prisoners

The Home Office Minister, Paul Goggins MP, today slammed Lambeth’s Liberal Democrat councillors for their campaign to grant the vote to all serving prisoners. The Minister made his comments just yards away from Brixton Prison. He acknowledged fears that Lambeth Council is going soft on crime under Lib Dem control.

Former Lib Dem Leader Charles Kennedy, backed by Lambeth Liberal Democrat councillors, announced his party’s intention to grant the vote to all prisoners regardless of category. Paul Goggins stated that the policy exposes the Liberal Democrats’ for being more concerned about criminals than about the victims of crime.

Since taking control of Lambeth Council the Lib Dems have:
- Opposed the London Mayor's plans to provide more police for Lambeth
- Under-funded the noise nuisance team so prosecutions fell by a third
- Covered up when one of their own councillors was caught stealing public money

Paul Goggins MP said:

"Let’s be absolutely clear on this. Liberal Democrat councillors want to grant the vote to all serving prisoners including those in Brixton Prison here in Lambeth. What does that say about their attitude towards tackling crime?”

“In contrast, I am delighted to see that Lambeth’s Labour councillors have sensible plans to make better use of powers granted to councils by Central Government. That includes issuing more anti-social behaviour orders and working more closely with the police”

Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth’s Labour Opposition, said:

“Lib Dem plans to grant all prisoners, including rapists and murderers, the vote sends out the wrong message. By their crimes, these people have forfeited any right to a say in how our community is run. This soft Lib Dem attitude towards crime is also reflected in the way they run the council.

“They have failed to support the police in tackling crime in Lambeth by opposing the establishment of Safer Neighbourhood Teams and under-funding noise nuisance.”

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