The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is becoming a "hate figure" in the UK, its outgoing president has said.
Writing in the Independent, Sir Nicolas Bratza, who is British, said it was "frustrating" and "disappointing" to see the court criticised more regularly and overtly by Britain than any of the other 47 countries in which its jurisdiction runs.
The European Court of Human Rights has become unpopular in Britain over its protection of criminals' rights
Sir Nicolas said: "The UK's contribution to that system has been immense. It is therefore frustrating and disappointing to see that, largely because of a single judgment concerning the right to vote of some categories of convicted prisoners, the court has become a sort of hate figure, not just in the popular press, but also in the soundbites of politicians, some of them senior, and, even more disturbingly, judges - again some of them senior."
The court, based in Strasbourg, was once again in the spotlight on Wednesday as Prime Minister David Cameron flatly ruled out giving prisoners the vote, a decision that put him at loggerheads with his chief law officer and an ECHR ruling against a blanket ban.
Sir Nicolas said he found it 'frustrating' the ECHR was seen so negatively in Britain
Giving evidence to MPs yesterday, Attorney General Dominic Grieve said the ruling imposed "an international legal obligation on us".
But Mr Cameron told the Commons: "No-one should be in any doubt. Prisoners are not getting the vote under this government."
Sir Nicolas asaid the government had a range of options to comply with the ECHR ruling and that there were "workable and politically acceptable solutions".
He also said it was no surprise that public opinion about the court in the UK has been "overwhelmingly negative".
Sir Nicolas wrote: "With regard to the popular press, this is perhaps not unexpected. The rule of law requires that even the most - deservedly - unpopular persons are entitled to the same protection as anyone else. This is well-nigh impossible to sell to public opinion.
"To explain that a person who is committed to destroying the society in which you live is entitled to the protection which is the hallmark of that society - and, indeed, ultimately what preserves it - is a challenge most politicians are not prepared to take up."
Dominic Raab, Conservative MP for Esher & Walton, launched a scathing attack on the ECHR on Thursday, writing in the Daily Mail the court "is threatening the rule of our national law with its arbitrary edicts."
Mr Cameron's official spokesman earlier denied that the PM was in disagreement with the Attorney General on prisoner voting, saying that the "single government view" on the issue was that prisoners should not get the vote.