Welsh Conservatives have reacted with shock at the announcement made today (April 1) by the First Minister that the Labour administration will push through legislation to change the local government election system, despite the continuing Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
In the statement, only enfranchisement of 16 and 17 year olds to vote is referred to, and any reference to votes for convicted prisoners has been omitted.
The enfranchisement of prisoners serving sentences of four years or less is controversial. Crimes attracting such sentences include*:
- Paedophilia
- Racially aggravated common assault
- Breach of a sex offender order
- Necrophilia
- Bestiality
- Ill-treatment of patients
Mark Isherwood, the Shadow Minister for Local Government, said:
“It’s a smokescreen, and frankly beyond belief that the Government in Wales is trying to push it through at this time.
“The Coronavirus pandemic has, realistically, barely begun and there are many, many more pressing matters that must take priority over getting this Bill into law and giving votes to prisoners.
“The Welsh Labour administration must focus all of its attention on supporting NHS Wales, supporting our frontline health and care staff, supporting and keeping safe the people of Wales, and keeping businesses going during this pandemic.
“Nothing else supersedes this, and the people of Wales should remember that the Welsh Government here sees its vanity project to give votes to prisoners as a priority during the Coronavirus crisis.”
