This week in Parliament, I lead for the Scottish Conservatives and tabled a motion calling for prisoners not to be allowed to vote in the upcoming 2021 election. Under legislation passed by the SNP Government last year, criminals serving sentences of 12 months or less- including those convicted of violent and sexual offences- will be able to go to the polls in May.
The Scottish Conservatives are the only party to oppose prisoner voting in Holyrood- and one SNP MSP even suggested during the debate that the right to vote should be extended to all prisoners.
My conscience is clear. However, it is extremely disappointing and morally repugnant to the rights of victims that all other parties voted for some of the worst criminals to have the vote.