Skinning Cats
I have to admit - I can't get too worked about about this votes for prisoners malarkey.
At one level it's plainly ridiculous that the civil rights of prisoners are a big priority - after all it's their own behaviour that sent them to jail.
On the other hand - prisoners are not exactly clapped in leg irons these days - they get to smoke to their hearts content, watch unlimited satellite TV and - allegedly - drugs are more easily available inside the pokey than out on the streets.
So what's the big deal about giving prisoners a postal vote - at least those who are not jailed for longer sentences and violent crimes.
Very few would bother to vote - as everyone knows - and it's hardly likely to make a real demand on prison resources.
But the real problem is that MPs are trying to curry favour with the public - by talking tough and coming out with this 'over my dead body' nonsense.
All that is likely to achieve is a lot of bogus damages claims - from prisoners who say their civil rights are being infringed.
Which some did successfully over slopping out and - more recently - about being interviewed by the police without a lawyer present.
So there's more than one way to skin a cat - if you ask me - which is why our politicians should approach the issue thoughtfully and carefully.
At one level it's plainly ridiculous that the civil rights of prisoners are a big priority - after all it's their own behaviour that sent them to jail.
On the other hand - prisoners are not exactly clapped in leg irons these days - they get to smoke to their hearts content, watch unlimited satellite TV and - allegedly - drugs are more easily available inside the pokey than out on the streets.
So what's the big deal about giving prisoners a postal vote - at least those who are not jailed for longer sentences and violent crimes.
Very few would bother to vote - as everyone knows - and it's hardly likely to make a real demand on prison resources.
But the real problem is that MPs are trying to curry favour with the public - by talking tough and coming out with this 'over my dead body' nonsense.
All that is likely to achieve is a lot of bogus damages claims - from prisoners who say their civil rights are being infringed.
Which some did successfully over slopping out and - more recently - about being interviewed by the police without a lawyer present.
So there's more than one way to skin a cat - if you ask me - which is why our politicians should approach the issue thoughtfully and carefully.
