to think if EU citizens can vote in local elections if they live here and if Commonwealth Citizens can vote in General Elections,

[cakeorwine]

then what's the issue with EU citizens who live here, pay taxes here etc voting in General Elections?

I don't here people complaining about EU citizens voting in local elections.

But the proposal for EU citizens to vote in general elections seems to have upset the Tories. For some reason.

Who can vote in UK elections? - House of Commons Library (parliament.uk)

Keir Starmer to hand vote to millions of EU nationals if Labour wins next election | Politics | News | Express.co.uk

Under the plans, migrants who live permanently and pay taxes in the UK would be able to vote in general elections for the first time.
The move is expected to enfranchise around 3.4 million EU nationals who have "settled status" in Britain
Meanwhile, 1.4 million 16 and 17-year-olds would also be able to go to the ballot box in line with Scotland and Wales.

That doesn't mean it's good though?

I've been in the UK, paying a lot of tax, for almost 20 years. Because of that I can't vote in my home country. I also can't vote here.

I will be seeking British citizenship at some point when I can bare to throw the money and time away because I am worried that the rights of settled EU citizens will slowly be eroded away. As the country gets poorer and worse off the right wing, xenohobic sentiments are bound to rise, and I am not giving up the rights (like health care, pension etc) I have paid for for decades, or accepting being some kind of second class citizen.

Citizens vote. It’s a privilege and a responsibility. Until we are totally ruled by the Global Hegemony, your country and citizenship matter.

if you want to vote in a GE, become a citizen.

Because the issues that affect younger people like wages, rent, student loans aren't important?
Should we also put in a maximum age for voting too, because old people might be losing their memory?

An awful lot of young adults are very switched on and engaged, understanding issues far better than people older than them. They deserve a say in the issues that affect them. They don't need patting on the head and telling that they don't understand yet.

If voting is that important to you then there is the option of becoming a citizen.

No because their brains have not matured yet, their experience limited. Thats not the same as me saying they are stupid. so for example understanding why the UK’s credit rating is important, how many 16 years old do you know who went “oof we lost our triple A rating, thats a bugger isn’t it”.

There are a whole bunch of issues you need to grasp before being able to assess policy to a reasonable extent to use your vote wisely. We don’t think 16 years olds are mature enough for marriage or a mortgage. The Scottish government thinks the age of criminal responsibility is basically 25 yet we think it’s a good idea to let them vote? It’s incoherent.

Why not let everyone in the world vote in UK elections? It would be the kind thing to do.

Will it be reciprocated by the countries whose citizens will be allowed to vote here?

I'm in favour of the 16/17 year olds voting...those that are interested are much more likely to do the research and vote accordingly (as I witnessed with my 18 year old in the local elections who googled every candidate before making her decision). I object to people who have left the country, have no interest in returning and don't pay taxes here still having a vote.

@Noicant there are plenty of adults voting who wouldn't have a clue what a triple A rating was.

Me too and I am 61. No problem with 16 year olds voting - if they are old enough to work and pay taxes then they can vote. Plenty of people over 18 are utter twats and vote for twats - that's how democracy works. I sometimes wonder how many people actually really support democracy and how many are only prepared to support it when people vote the way they want.

So it is your choice to keep your original citizenship?

It can’t be that awful then, not being able to vote. It’s a choice you’ve made.

Unless your country of birth forbids dual citizenship, you don't have to give it up to become a UK citizen, assuming you qualify. You can have dual nationality. What can be hard for many is the cost: naturalisation £1,250, ceremony fee £80,

Quite, lets not add to that number.

It's not just the UK. My DM lived in Spain with Spanish residency and paid Spanish taxes for 19 years. She could only vote in local elections not the GE.

I’m addressing the fact that poster finds not being able to vote so awful and feels unwanted, but that’s because of their own choice.

They didn’t mention the cost.

No taxation without representation. If they can't vote then let's make them exempt from UK taxation. Let's see how that idea is received , shall we?

I absolutely support democracy. The point is when do we consider someone no-longer a child. Because 16 years do not have the same legal rights as an 18 yr old for good reason (I understand the number may feel arbitrary to young people). We do not as a society consider people under the age of 18 to be competent to make some decisions. Why not let them take out loans and get mortgages and get married at 16? Being able to vote is a precious responsibility it should be considered to be as serious as anything else we do thats is important. If a 16 year old, why not a 15 year old?

If you want to know how many over-18s are twats who vote for twats, just look at the 2010 and later general elections, and which party was elected.

In that case also no representation without taxation.

Would you like to see the right to vote revoked for everyone who does not pay tax?

Like those foreign based tax dodgers who vote Conservative? Yes its a scandal.

That's a complete non sequitur. Or bollocks in English.

All that is being said is No Taxation Without Representation. Not the reverse. EU citizens also pay more tax.

Pay more tax where?

I don’t know enough about it but as long as it’s fair I don’t have a problem.

All adults are liable for general taxation and national insurance. Just because they don't earn enough to pay doesn't mean they aren't still potentially liable for tax. Do keep up. @ChardonnaysBeastlyCat .

Also assuming that people are left wing because they are European is a mistake. I used to have a close friend who grew up in communist Poland. Utterly despises the left, ofcourse it’s not the Labour party’s fault but she’s deeply suspicious of left wing parties. People come from their own political backgrounds, histories, religious sentiments their analysis of whats wrong with Britain may be very different from your own.