Nicola Sturgeon has said she does not believe all prisoners should have the right to vote.

The Scottish Parliament has new powers over voting rights and must decide how it complies with the European Court of Human Rights on the issue.

A Holyrood committee this week backed giving prisoners the right to vote with only the Tory members opposed to the move.

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The First Minister said today that she was not in favour of all prisoners being given the vote and was doubtful if the ECHR meant they had to.

She said: “I've previously been clear that now that this power is devolved, the Scottish Parliament will need to consider how to ensure compliance with the European Court of Human Rights ruling.

"But I have to say I am not of the view that this should lead to the enfranchising of all prisoners and I am, to say the least, sceptical that complying with the ECHR requires all prisoners to have the right to vote.”

She said Holyrood had to make a decision and a debate would need to be had to resolve the issue.

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However she said: "But it is my view that we should not give the vote to all prisoners. I'm certainly not persuaded of enfranchising prisoners who are in prison for the most serious and heinous crimes and are perhaps in prison for lengthy periods of time and I don't think that is required to comply with the ECHR.

She was asked by Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser if she agreed with the Equalities and Human Rights Committee at Holyrood on allowing prisoners to vote.