Clwyd West AM Darren Millar has hit out at the Welsh Government’s “warped sense of priorities” in pressing ahead with changing laws on votes for prisoners in council elections in 2022 at a time when all of their attention should be focused on the coronavirus pandemic.
The votes for prisoners are part of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill, which will debated in this afternoon's virtual plenary session of the Senedd.
Its proposals ‘to enable prisoners and young people in custody from Wales who are serving a custodial sentence of less than four years to vote in local government elections’, have been opposed by the Welsh Conservatives since they were first mooted and Darren has blasted the Welsh Government for attempting to push through the legislation at a time when their full attention should instead be focused on the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said:
“This warped sense of priorities at this unprecedented time beggars belief!”
“We are in the midst of an international emergency that requires the full attention of the Welsh Government so it is absolutely flabbergasting that Labour Ministers feel it appropriate to push this legislation forward at this time.
“Lives have been turned upside down and hundreds of people are dying daily and yet the Welsh Labour Government seem fixated on ensuring that prisoners can vote in over two years’ time. It’s wrong and can hardly be considered a priority.
“Getting this Bill into law and giving votes to convicted criminals should be scrapped at such a critical time and the Welsh Government should instead be putting all their energy into supporting our fantastic frontline NHS staff, care workers and key workers, as well as helping businesses and charities to get through this pandemic.”