It’s a bit odd that Keir walks back from nationalisation and support for strikes, but this is something he wants to push.
If you live for decades in a country and want to steer it’s future, why not become a citizen? If anything, there should be something to look at as unnecessary barriers for EU citizens to become British citizens or something.
I’ve seen a previous post on this story and the backlash against this has amazed me, i didnt realise this issue was so contentious.
I guess the big question is if this will actually lose votes for the labour party
UK citizens don’t get the right to vote in general elections in Germany (the only EU country I know the rules of)
It’s honestly extremely shocking that Keir has said this. This is an election-loser.
This is the ed-stone. It’s Brown’s bigoted woman comment. It’s kinnock on the beach.
[deleted]
Citizenship and voting should be linked as much as possible. Willing to make an exception for Ireland for obvious reasons, but I hate that commonwealth citizens get to vote in GE’s if they happen to be resident here.
The same is not true for me, if I am resident in their countries.
We need to be trimming down the amount of foreigners we allow to vote in GE’s, not expanding it.
No other country does this.. It’s a really weird setup.
This is the first time I’m really disagreeing with him. It just seems like such a nothing idea to be giving airtime to.
It makes no sense. Simplify the citizenship process. Absolutely. However, I don’t think it ‘feels wrong’ that only citizens of a country get to vote in it’s national elections.
I hope the party pulls back from this come manifesto time.
Just providing some info, I am not convinced either way to be honest. It is kind of weird for Labour to lean on it, it’s not like those people will have a vote for the next GE and even after no guarantee they will vote Labour anyway.
Why don’t they just become British?
Only some countries allow for dual citizenship. So applying to be a British citizen they lose their original citizenship. Not a massive issue for places like India, as the chances of UK sharing data with them is almost zero, so people have dual by stealth. The EU however have quite a bit of data sharing and it is much more likely to be notified of someone claiming citizenship.
The detail is important. It’s settled status only, so 5 years minimum to get and lost if they leave for 6 months or more. They can vote in local elections but not general.
It would include about 3m or so people but it changes often up or down.
Just providing some info, I am not convinced either way to be honest. It is kind of weird for Labour to lean on it, it’s not like those people will have a vote for the next GE and even after no guarantee they will vote Labour anyway.
Why don’t they just become British?
Only some countries allow for dual citizenship. So applying to be a British citizen they lose their original citizenship. Not a massive issue for places like India, as the chances of UK sharing data with them is almost zero, so people have dual by stealth. The EU however have quite a bit of data sharing and it is much more likely to be notified of someone claiming citizenship.
It’s settled status only, so 5 years minimum to get and lost if they leave for 6 months or more. They can vote in local elections but not general.
It would include about 3m or so people but it changes often up or down.
If “feels wrong” that Queef has turned into a neo-con controlled opposition party leader.
FTFY
I don’t think it’s the worst idea in the world. What would also make sense is that people who don’t fucking live here aren’t able to vote. Currently you have to be gone 15 years before you can’t. If you’re not *living* here why should you have any say whatsoever? By that same token maybe anyone living here should
Feels wrong he doesn’t support the union’s shoulders he stands upon.
It feels wrong to me that commonwealth citizens living in the UK can vote but EU ones can’t. So on that point I do agree. But It just seems like a natural and unfortunate consequence of Brexit.
I don’t think it makes much sense to just expand it back up to EU citizens either though. I think take away the automatic right for common wealth citizens living in the UK to vote. Sure keep Irelands if it’s required because of our agreements with them.
Then either make it just British Citizens, Irish Citizens, and other British Nationals resident in the UK.
Or if it is going to be open to people who are not British (or Irish) nationals allow anyone with indefinite leave to remain regardless of where they come from.
His logic in the article doesn’t make much sense. A person from a random EU country who has lived here for 15 years and has kids here and is part of the community isn’t more a part of our country than A person from a random South American country who has lived here for 15 years and has kids here.
When we were part of the EU we absolutely should have given EU citizens extra consideration. That’s what being part of a Union is. But if we are going to stupidly leave and throw away all the benefits then with that comes the fact that it makes EU citizens just like anybody else.
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Maybe there is a good historical reason common wealth citizens are afforded this right, and if so then I will stand corrected and say they should keep it. But at this point in time it does not make sense to give someone from Spain more rights than someone from Bolivia if they are here under the same immigration status.
As an EU citizen living in the UK I don’t think it’s a good idea. I also think Starmer wants to give votes to 16 year olds and he’s using EU citizens to anchor his position high, when the time comes he’ll u-turn on EU citizens but keep the 16 year olds.
Non citizens shouldn’t not be allowed to vote as there is no guarantee they’re voting for what they genuinely believe to be the best for the country.
If they’re here to work and plan to fuck off when yney retire they could vote for what benefits them directly at the time even if they believe it could have negative consequences down the line.
Commit to the country or remain without a vote. Simple as.
Kier… you’re a bellend of the highest order
I’m a Brit living in Canada as a Permanent Resident (not a Citizen). I don’t get to vote here unless I become a Citizen. Seems reasonable to me.
So he’ll be planning on making sure UK citizens can vote in all of the EU at the same time right?
No? Just looking to make UK citizens second class? Gotcha, usual play then.
I am deeply hoping Starmer is playing the middle line to get into power and will then start pushing more leftist policies. We can only hope.
So he thinks they will vote for him? At minimum they aren’t going to vote for the other (Blue) Tories.
In Scotland they vote SNP disproportionately to locals.
19 comments
It’s a bit odd that Keir walks back from nationalisation and support for strikes, but this is something he wants to push.
If you live for decades in a country and want to steer it’s future, why not become a citizen? If anything, there should be something to look at as unnecessary barriers for EU citizens to become British citizens or something.
I’ve seen a previous post on this story and the backlash against this has amazed me, i didnt realise this issue was so contentious.
I guess the big question is if this will actually lose votes for the labour party
UK citizens don’t get the right to vote in general elections in Germany (the only EU country I know the rules of)
It’s honestly extremely shocking that Keir has said this. This is an election-loser.
This is the ed-stone. It’s Brown’s bigoted woman comment. It’s kinnock on the beach.
[deleted]
Citizenship and voting should be linked as much as possible. Willing to make an exception for Ireland for obvious reasons, but I hate that commonwealth citizens get to vote in GE’s if they happen to be resident here.
The same is not true for me, if I am resident in their countries.
We need to be trimming down the amount of foreigners we allow to vote in GE’s, not expanding it.
No other country does this.. It’s a really weird setup.
This is the first time I’m really disagreeing with him. It just seems like such a nothing idea to be giving airtime to.
It makes no sense. Simplify the citizenship process. Absolutely. However, I don’t think it ‘feels wrong’ that only citizens of a country get to vote in it’s national elections.
I hope the party pulls back from this come manifesto time.
Just providing some info, I am not convinced either way to be honest. It is kind of weird for Labour to lean on it, it’s not like those people will have a vote for the next GE and even after no guarantee they will vote Labour anyway.
Why don’t they just become British?
Only some countries allow for dual citizenship. So applying to be a British citizen they lose their original citizenship. Not a massive issue for places like India, as the chances of UK sharing data with them is almost zero, so people have dual by stealth. The EU however have quite a bit of data sharing and it is much more likely to be notified of someone claiming citizenship.
The detail is important. It’s settled status only, so 5 years minimum to get and lost if they leave for 6 months or more. They can vote in local elections but not general.
It would include about 3m or so people but it changes often up or down.
Just providing some info, I am not convinced either way to be honest. It is kind of weird for Labour to lean on it, it’s not like those people will have a vote for the next GE and even after no guarantee they will vote Labour anyway.
Why don’t they just become British?
Only some countries allow for dual citizenship. So applying to be a British citizen they lose their original citizenship. Not a massive issue for places like India, as the chances of UK sharing data with them is almost zero, so people have dual by stealth. The EU however have quite a bit of data sharing and it is much more likely to be notified of someone claiming citizenship.
It’s settled status only, so 5 years minimum to get and lost if they leave for 6 months or more. They can vote in local elections but not general.
It would include about 3m or so people but it changes often up or down.
If “feels wrong” that Queef has turned into a neo-con controlled opposition party leader.
FTFY
I don’t think it’s the worst idea in the world. What would also make sense is that people who don’t fucking live here aren’t able to vote. Currently you have to be gone 15 years before you can’t. If you’re not *living* here why should you have any say whatsoever? By that same token maybe anyone living here should
Feels wrong he doesn’t support the union’s shoulders he stands upon.
It feels wrong to me that commonwealth citizens living in the UK can vote but EU ones can’t. So on that point I do agree. But It just seems like a natural and unfortunate consequence of Brexit.
I don’t think it makes much sense to just expand it back up to EU citizens either though. I think take away the automatic right for common wealth citizens living in the UK to vote. Sure keep Irelands if it’s required because of our agreements with them.
Then either make it just British Citizens, Irish Citizens, and other British Nationals resident in the UK.
Or if it is going to be open to people who are not British (or Irish) nationals allow anyone with indefinite leave to remain regardless of where they come from.
His logic in the article doesn’t make much sense. A person from a random EU country who has lived here for 15 years and has kids here and is part of the community isn’t more a part of our country than A person from a random South American country who has lived here for 15 years and has kids here.
When we were part of the EU we absolutely should have given EU citizens extra consideration. That’s what being part of a Union is. But if we are going to stupidly leave and throw away all the benefits then with that comes the fact that it makes EU citizens just like anybody else.
​
Maybe there is a good historical reason common wealth citizens are afforded this right, and if so then I will stand corrected and say they should keep it. But at this point in time it does not make sense to give someone from Spain more rights than someone from Bolivia if they are here under the same immigration status.
As an EU citizen living in the UK I don’t think it’s a good idea. I also think Starmer wants to give votes to 16 year olds and he’s using EU citizens to anchor his position high, when the time comes he’ll u-turn on EU citizens but keep the 16 year olds.
Non citizens shouldn’t not be allowed to vote as there is no guarantee they’re voting for what they genuinely believe to be the best for the country.
If they’re here to work and plan to fuck off when yney retire they could vote for what benefits them directly at the time even if they believe it could have negative consequences down the line.
Commit to the country or remain without a vote. Simple as.
Kier… you’re a bellend of the highest order
I’m a Brit living in Canada as a Permanent Resident (not a Citizen). I don’t get to vote here unless I become a Citizen. Seems reasonable to me.
So he’ll be planning on making sure UK citizens can vote in all of the EU at the same time right?
No? Just looking to make UK citizens second class? Gotcha, usual play then.
I am deeply hoping Starmer is playing the middle line to get into power and will then start pushing more leftist policies. We can only hope.
So he thinks they will vote for him? At minimum they aren’t going to vote for the other (Blue) Tories.
In Scotland they vote SNP disproportionately to locals.