Commenting on the government consultation on prisoners voting, Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said:

The Prison Reform Trust is pleased that the government is taking steps to respond to the unequivocal judgment by the European Court that the blanket ban on prisoners voting is unlawful. The debate must start from the democratic principle that being a citizen is an inalienable right and the practical observation that the exercise of responsibilities encourages responsible behaviour.

The government should welcome the chance to overturn an outdated ban with no place in a modern prison system that aims to ensure that those who have been punished with the loss of liberty can become good and useful citizens on release.

There has been considerable support for this move from the Prison Governors Association, past and present Chief Inspectors of Prisons, the Anglican and Catholic Bishops to prisons, and Parliamentarians of all parties.