A Kent MP has warned if Britain gives the vote to prisoners it could mean rapists, paedophiles and murderers hold sway in his constituency.

Sheppey has prison population of 3,000 - easily enough to have a say in Island elections, MP Gordon Henderson said.

His fears follow a European Court of Human Rights ruling that Britain is breaking the law by refusing to give prisoners the vote.

Last week the government revealed it is looking at ways to implement the ruling, which raised questions over where inmates would register, particularly those with no permanent home.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey's Mr Henderson said: “I think that my constituents will be as appalled as I am if serious criminals such as murders, rapists and paedophiles are allowed to vote.”

He has vowed to vote against any legislation allowing prisoners convicted of serious crimes to vote in elections.

“I am most unhappy that we are being dictated to by a foreign court,” he said.

“Britain is a sovereign nation and the Westminster Parliament should decide how we treat those who break our laws.”

Mr Henderson said prison had two functions – punishment and rehabilitation.

“Part of the punishment regime is to deprive inmates of their liberty and their right to take part in the democratic process,” he said.

“If you let prisoners vote then the level of their punishment will be reduced and that simply cannot be right, which is why I warned the government that when legislation is placed before the House I will vote against it, whether or not we are given a free vote.”

But he added it was “probably right” for some prisoners to have a vote in certain circumstances – such as those on remand and those who ending their sentence in an open prison.

Sheppey Central councillor, Cllr John Morris, added that he would never “buy” votes and was unhappy at the prospect of canvassing at the Sheppey Cluster, made up of Swaleside, Elmley and Standford Hill.

“I have great difficulty in being dishonest and I don’t see what I could promise them. They don’t live in Eastchurch – they are there because Her Majesty says so.”

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