A CONVICTED killer from Hull last night accused MPs of turning from law- makers to law-breakers, after they backed a motion to stop his campaign to win prisoners the vote.
John Hirst, 59, of Beverley Road, Hull, took the Government to the European Court Of Human Rights while serving 24 years in prison for manslaughter.
The court's ruling called upon the UK to end the blanket ban on inmates taking part in national and European elections.
But last night, MPs backed a Commons motion led by Haltemprice and Howden MP David Davis denying prisoners the vote.
The motion, tabled by Mr Davis and Labour's former justice secretary Jack Straw, said that the decision on prisoners' votes should be one for democratically elected lawmakers and stated that "no sentenced prisoner" should be granted the vote except those jailed for debt default or contempt of court.
The motion was passed by a majority of 212, with 234 votes to 22.
Last night, Mr Hirst branded the vote "meaningless" and said that prisoners will still get the vote. He accused MPs of turning from law-makers to law-breakers.
He told the Mail: "It is ironic that I have gone from law-breaker to law-maker and MPs have gone the other way."
During yesterday's debate, Mr Davis said convicted prisoners "have broken their contract with society" and should not be given the right to vote. He said that the courts will have to "think again" if MPs decide inmates should not be able to vote.
Speaking ahead of the debate, former Home Secretary Alan Johnson said he was "strongly opposed" to giving prisoners the vote.
He told the Mail: "I intend to back the motion. Labour has always opposed giving prisoners the vote and I strongly support that position."
Previously, Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy had told the Mail that "Hell would freeze over" before he voted to give prisoners the vote.
Dominic Grieve, the attorney general, warned there would be "costs and consequences" of ignoring the European judgement.
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