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In February the House of Commons voted by an overwhelming margin of 234 to 22 to keep a blanket ban on prisoner voting. The motion is not binding on the government and the Prime Minister, David Cameron, indicated he intended to defy the court - saying the idea of allowing prisoners to vote made him "physically ill".
The Secretary of the backbench 1922 Committee, Nick De Bois (Con: Enfield North) tweeted last night "Sitting working with 5 other Cons MPs - if reports of prisoner voting rights are accurate then that's 6 MPs who won't vote for it". Douglas Carswell (Con: Harwich and North Essex) added "Make it 7".
Zac Goldmith (Con: Richmond Park) wrote: "MPs almost unanimously rejected votes for prisoners. If it happens all the same, does that mean the UK Parl officially no longer matters?" According to the BBC's political correspondent Robin Brant one Tory backbencher reacted by saying the vote would be given to prisoners "over my dead body."
Government sources are playing it down insisting that "no decision had yet been taken". One Tory source told me that its a "bollocks story". A cabinet source has told the BBC's Norman Smith "It is completely untrue. It's not happening. Its complete nonsesnse."
The row is likely to come up at Prime Minister's Question time at midday. Looking at the order paper Peter Bone (Con: Wellingborough) is on the list so expecting him to bring it up.
Labour does not favour prisoner voting rights but does not want to be seen to be ignoring the court. Liberal Democrat ministers and their backbenchers still support compliance with the court, but do not want to be seen any longer to be in the vanguard on an issue that is likely to make them deeply unpopular.
