Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 27 June 2013
27 Jun 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Bill
The passing of the bill today will finalise two major decisions. One represents a progressive change for the future. The other reflects illiberal entrenchment in the past.
I am as delighted as other members are that we are giving 16 and 17-year-olds the right to have their say on the country’s future. The Liberal Democrats want to create a fair society, and it has long been our policy to lower the voting age. We hope that today’s move will be the first step towards allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in all elections in the UK.
I am deeply disappointed by the position of the majority of members on prisoner voting. Outside this Parliament, there is a growing consensus on the matter, which has been stubbornly ignored by three parties in the Parliament. There is not yet consensus on which prisoners should vote, but there is consensus that it is simply wrong to continue to deprive every person in prison of the fundamental right to participate in our democracy.
It is correct that we punish offenders, but our primary aim must be to rehabilitate them. If we are serious about that and about reducing reoffending, we must ensure that prisoners are more engaged with society.
Voting is not a duty that we impose on people; nor is it a privilege that can be revoked at the slightest cause. It is a fundamental right of every member of a free and fair society, which we should not remove lightly.
All too often during our debates on the matter, I have heard opponents fall back on the argument that the situation should stay as it is because that is how it is. I say this: it is up to members of this Parliament to decide how it should be. We could have decided that there is a better way of determining whether to take away a fundamental right. Instead, Scottish National Party, Labour and Conservative members chose to stay rooted in the past.
Prison will achieve results only if we use it to give offenders the tools that will help them to make a meaningful contribution to the community after they are released. Excluding prisoners, particularly short-term prisoners, from voting, will reinforce prisoners’ sense of isolation and further alienate them from society.
We have missed a chance with this bill. The Parliament has taken the opportunity to open its arms to the country’s young people. We have told them that the referendum is about their future, so they should be a part of it. However, we have turned our backs on another opportunity. We could have sent the message to some of the people who will be in prison on 18 September 2014 that, even though people have done wrong, we have not given up on them and we want to give them a chance to play a part in our society.
16:13
I am as delighted as other members are that we are giving 16 and 17-year-olds the right to have their say on the country’s future. The Liberal Democrats want to create a fair society, and it has long been our policy to lower the voting age. We hope that today’s move will be the first step towards allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in all elections in the UK.
I am deeply disappointed by the position of the majority of members on prisoner voting. Outside this Parliament, there is a growing consensus on the matter, which has been stubbornly ignored by three parties in the Parliament. There is not yet consensus on which prisoners should vote, but there is consensus that it is simply wrong to continue to deprive every person in prison of the fundamental right to participate in our democracy.
It is correct that we punish offenders, but our primary aim must be to rehabilitate them. If we are serious about that and about reducing reoffending, we must ensure that prisoners are more engaged with society.
Voting is not a duty that we impose on people; nor is it a privilege that can be revoked at the slightest cause. It is a fundamental right of every member of a free and fair society, which we should not remove lightly.
All too often during our debates on the matter, I have heard opponents fall back on the argument that the situation should stay as it is because that is how it is. I say this: it is up to members of this Parliament to decide how it should be. We could have decided that there is a better way of determining whether to take away a fundamental right. Instead, Scottish National Party, Labour and Conservative members chose to stay rooted in the past.
Prison will achieve results only if we use it to give offenders the tools that will help them to make a meaningful contribution to the community after they are released. Excluding prisoners, particularly short-term prisoners, from voting, will reinforce prisoners’ sense of isolation and further alienate them from society.
We have missed a chance with this bill. The Parliament has taken the opportunity to open its arms to the country’s young people. We have told them that the referendum is about their future, so they should be a part of it. However, we have turned our backs on another opportunity. We could have sent the message to some of the people who will be in prison on 18 September 2014 that, even though people have done wrong, we have not given up on them and we want to give them a chance to play a part in our society.
16:13
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-07109, in the name of Nicola Sturgeon, on the Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Bill.15:40
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities (Nicola Sturgeon)
SNP
I am very pleased to open the stage 3 debate on the Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Bill and to fulfil the Scottish Government’s commitment to e...
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab)
Lab
As Parliament knows, this bill has been subject to an expedited process, so that the electoral registration canvass can begin in the autumn. It has been poss...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
You should be drawing to a close now, please.
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
We may take a different view from the Government on what would be a desired outcome from next year’s referendum, but we agree that young people should be abl...
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Today represents the final stage of phase 1 of an important legislative process that will culminate in the referendum on 18 September next year. I echo Patri...
Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
On many occasions since the establishment of this Parliament in 1999, I have been very proud of what we have achieved through the legislation that we have pa...
Annabel Goldie
Con
Will the member give way?
Bruce Crawford
SNP
I am sorry, but I only have three minutes.Those decisions were taken and their outcomes created by mature and supposedly wise and experienced adults. Those o...
John Pentland (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab)
Lab
When I spoke in the stage 1 debate on the bill, I was supportive of its general principles but not without some reservations. In many ways, little has change...
Stuart McMillan (West Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
This is truly a momentous day. Irrespective of which side of the debate members are campaigning for, at decision time they will shatter the ceiling placed on...
Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
The passing of the bill today will finalise two major decisions. One represents a progressive change for the future. The other reflects illiberal entrenchmen...
Annabelle Ewing (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to have been called to speak in the debate on the Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Bill. I am a member of the Referendum (Scotland) ...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I echo the thanks of my fellow committee members to our clerks and witnesses and to everyone else who contributed to the process.I am naturally disappointed ...
Annabel Goldie
Con
I hope that this debate—I am pleased to have played a role in stimulating some sort of debate—has disturbed part of the consensus. What I said was intended n...
James Kelly (Rutherglen) (Lab)
Lab
I echo the comments of Annabelle Ewing and others in support of the clerks and all who have worked on the bill to get it to the stage at which it will be pas...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I was advising the cabinet secretary of how long she might have to speak. You have another 30 seconds or thereby.
James Kelly
Lab
Okay—30 seconds or thereabouts.To sum up, I reassure the Deputy First Minister that we support the bill and its provisions in relation to prisoners voting. I...
Nicola Sturgeon
SNP
I thank all members who have taken part in the debate.I begin by highlighting a few issues of process that have been raised. Patricia Ferguson rightly acknow...
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
Will Nicola Sturgeon take an intervention?
Nicola Sturgeon
SNP
I was going to move on to a consensual point, but I will take the intervention.
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
I do not want to break the consensus either, but I make the point to the Deputy First Minister that the reason why we are so keen to find out a bit more abou...
Nicola Sturgeon
SNP
The Government always does its homework, and on this issue—perhaps more than on many others—the legal position is clear. A legal challenge would be very unli...