An insult to Britain and democracy

In a resounding snub to our democracy, five European judges overrule the emphatic will of Britain's parliament and people and insist that prisoners in the UK must be given the vote.

Just two months after MPs voted overwhelmingly to keep our 140-year-old ban, the European Court of Human Rights refuses even to consider the Government's appeal against its award of compensation to disenfranchised convicts.

And adding a further insult, the five judges issue an ultimatum: If we don't bring forward new laws within six months – and enact them within a time-frame to be decided by Europe – the court will begin ordering payments totalling up to £150million to killers and other convicts.

This intolerable ruling throws down a gauntlet to the Government.

Will ministers now look seriously at the possibility of disengaging Britain from the jurisdiction of a court that, time and again, has affronted our traditions of justice and common sense.

Or will they meekly accept it?

If so, they'll be acknowledging that our status as a sovereign nation is at an end.