Secretary of State for Scotland (Meetings)

First Minister's Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 11:59 am on 4 November 2010.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Annabel Goldie Annabel Goldie Conservative 11:59, 4 November 2010

To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland. (S3F-2657)

Photo of Annabel Goldie Annabel Goldie Conservative

Alex Salmond and his Scottish National Party colleagues have always been passionate and unquestioning supporters of the European convention on human rights and its incorporation into Scots law. In the light of subsequent events—most recently around the right of prisoners to vote—does he now regret that?

Photo of Alex Salmond Alex Salmond First Minister of Scotland, Leader, Scottish National Party

No. The European convention on human rights is something to which we should subscribe. However, I think that this Administration and this jurisdiction should be in exactly the same position vis-à-vis the convention as any other country.

I am interested in Annabel Goldie's question, because, as I understand it, it is the Conservative-led Government that is now proposing to introduce the right of prisoners to vote. Presumably, if the Conservative-led Government had a different answer, it would not now be proposing that.

Photo of Annabel Goldie Annabel Goldie Conservative

The Prime Minister made it clear in the House of Commons yesterday that the prospect of votes for prisoners is sickening. He said:

"It makes me feel physically ill".—[Official Report, House of Commons, 3 November 2010; Vol 517; c 921.]

I think that that sentiment is widely shared. He also made it clear that this is just another example of the mess that the coalition Government is having to clear up.

The First Minister faces a political paradox—a very inconvenient truth—because, in fact, he does not want many of those prisoners in prison in the first place; he wants convicts in the community. One can just see him outside our Scottish jails, brandishing a placard that says, "Freedom! Vote SNP for a soft-touch Scotland." On prisoners' votes, the First Minister should mop up his crocodile tears.

I will make a constructive suggestion. Regrettably, some prisoners will have to be given the right to vote and the UK Government is considering how to limit the damage, but surely in Scotland we could take some interim measures. Could guidance be given now to our Scottish judges that when they impose a prison sentence they should make clear whether the prisoner retains or loses the right to vote?

Photo of Alex Salmond Alex Salmond First Minister of Scotland, Leader, Scottish National Party

On the specific question that Annabel Goldie asks, we had better see what proposals come from the Government that is actually in charge of the issue before we give directions to the Scottish judiciary.

I am amazed by Annabel Goldie's totally extraordinary comments and attack on our incredibly sensible policy of limiting short-term sentences in Scotland, because that policy has been endorsed by none other an authority than Kenneth Clarke, who, last time I checked, was in charge of these things south of the border and who, last time I checked, was still a Conservative MP. I know that he is enthusiastically backed in that policy by his coalition partners in London—even if they are at variance on other policies, such as tuition fees.

I do not understand why Annabel Goldie wants to persuade me to depart from what seems an entirely sensible policy in Scotland when she cannot persuade her own Lord Chancellor south of the border to depart from exactly that Scottish policy. Indeed, Ken Clarke has been supported by none other than Ed Miliband in the move against short-term sentences.

On the SNP's track record, I remind Annabel Goldie that we now have the lowest crime rate in Scotland for 32 years, which seems to be some achievement.