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.

The USA has a strict rule of only citizens voting. I agree with it tbh.

why is this just EU citizens we're talking about. IMO anyone who can prove to be settled here should be able to cast a vote

Indeed - LBC news correspondent described Starmer's policy as 'wildly inconsistent'. Why not US citizens?

Asking for voter ID is nowhere in the same league as giving non UK citizens and children the vote. JRM may have done it for the wrong reasons, more fool him, although personally I think we've reached a stage now where voter ID is necessary.

Regardless of the poor behaviour of the Tories, and there has been plenty, it doesn't mean that it gives a free pass for labour to hand a vote to people who are children, or who are not UK citizens, when it comes to voting about UK matters. Two wrongs don't make a right. And asking for voter ID is no where near the level of treachery of inviting non UK citizens to have a UK vote. If they want to vote, then get citizenship and demonstrate their commitment to the country.

Why stop there? Why not the whole world get a vote on how the UK runs its own country ffs. 🙄

I got the impression Starmer cared about getting the Brexit voter; writing articles in the DM, national anthems, talk of duty and rehashed Brexit lines.

Seems not, and a bit all over the shop, although why solely EU over other countries is a good question

Don’t tempt them

I have always resented paying taxes but not being able to vote in general elections, which have a profound impact on my work and my everyday life. Should it have taken the best part of £2000 and 2 years (taking into account paperwork, exams and the time to take my paw prints) to gain citizenship, given at the time I was married to a Brit, with British children, in an essential job as a net taxpayer, here for over 10 years at that point? Probably not.

Why not?

The ability to vote in a given jurisdiction is a right which is almost always limited to those with citizenship, not just in Britain but everywhere. That's true even if you pay high taxes and do an 'essential' job. If the ability to vote mattered that much to you, then surely you'd be happy to do what it takes?

🤦‍♀️

Did you make that up yourself, or read it in the VB?

Really, you'll be able to provide plenty of evidence of the rampant voter fraud that I.D legislation was brought in to stop then won't you? Oh wait, no you won't because, as your party boy has now admitted, that wasn't its purpose at all.

But there you have it ladies and gents, the officical tory faithful stance is that "actual documented voter suppression is not as bad as exploring potential ideas to increase representation in elections".

Utterly mind bending mental gymnastics being performed here.

exploring potential ideas to increase representation in elections

Considering this proposal was in Labour's 2019 manifesto as well (all residents, not just EU nationals + 16/17 year olds) you would have thought they had explored ideas already.

The gymnastics are being performed by you.

Only a fool would draw a similar comparison between voter ID and inviting non UK citizens to vote.

JRM may have introduced voter ID for those reasons.

I think, totally separately from JRMs reasons, that voter ID is necessary. Because it was extremely easy to go in and tick that box otherwise. Not even a voting card was required. I know people who have gone into vote on other people's cards in the distant past. Because. No ID.

I'm not quite sure why you keep insisting JRM is my poster boy. Is it because your mindset is so narrow that you think if someone doesn't support labour, then they must be a Tory? Thats very typical of die hard labour voters isn't it.

But there you have it ladies and gents, the officical tory faithful stance is that "actual documented voter suppression is not as bad as exploring potential ideas to increase representation in elections".

Increase representation by getting people who aren't UK citizens to vote on UK matters? The only people who should vote on matters regarding their own countries are the citizens of those countries. Not any one else who fancies a say.

Jeez, the stupidity of some people.

And they've publicly stated that the "letting migrants vote" is not currently part of their next manifesto (yet) and is going through a policy review process.

I'm also fairly sure it wasn't the last manifesto either, rather they pledged to ensure everyone who was entitled to vote would be automatically registered (as well as lowering the age) but you'll know the 2019 Labour manifesto far better than me I suppose.

In any case are you really impying it's a bad thing to reasses policies / proposals / manifestos after 4 years?

I agree - if it's people who have settled here and have made the UK their home, then this should apply to them.

GCAcademic · Today 07:50
My mother has lived here for nearly 60 years, had 25 years working as a nurse in the NHS, and can’t vote in general elections.”

Why?

Deflect, deflect, deflect, deflect, deflect. Why won't you explain why you think actual documented voter suppression isn't bad?

Also you do know that non-uk citizens can vote in various (in many cases all) elections already, don't you?

Kinda shoots holes through your "UK votes for UK people" chant doesn't it?

But while we're at it, care to explain why someone who lives, works, has family, and contributes to the UK shouldn't be allowed to have a say on it's future? Should UK citizens be required to confirm that they don't plan to leaving the UK anytime soon before being allowed to vote?

There never, ever be taxation without representation.

Deflect, deflect, deflect, deflect, deflect. Why won't you explain why you think actual documented voter suppression isn't bad?

I'm not deflecting. You just seem unable to read.

Also you do know that non-uk citizens can vote in various (in many cases all) elections already, don't you?

Yes that's right, there's various rules depending on where people are from.

Kinda shoots holes through your "UK votes for UK people" chant doesn't it?

No, it doesn't shoot holes in it at all.

But while we're at it, care to explain why someone who lives, works, has family, and contributes to the UK shouldn't be allowed to have a say on it's future?

They can have a say. When they apply for citizenship and demonstrate their commitment to the country.

Should UK citizens be required to confirm that they don't plan to leaving the UK anytime soon before being allowed to vote?

Nope. There's no requirement for UK citizens to do that.

As long as you're happy for them not to use any UK resources. Including housing.

So the taxes I pay can go towards housing UK citizens, but should I fall on hard times (God forbid), they have no responsibility towards me whatsoever? Got it.

You're twisting that a bit aren't you. 🙄 Obviously if you're paying taxes then all good. The resources are there. It doesn't however mean that paying taxes should give an entitlement to vote. If you want to vote, get citizenship.

Equally, living here without paying taxes because no vote, yet wanting UK resources, seems somewhat entitled.

@ChardonnaysBeastlyCat super harsh! You have no idea what it feels like to be a foreign national. FWIW I am considering citizenship here but it is cost prohibitive. I can keep my first nationality, but if I couldn't, I'd really think twice about it. I don't plan to return to my country of origin,

but you don't know what your future holds and most people still have ties. Plus, it would feel ridiculous to lose my own nationality. It's a huge part of who I am. Most of my friends don't realize I don't have the right to vote here apart from local elections unless it's pointed out. I've also been here for 2 decades paying my taxes etc.

Yes 🙌🏼

I am more worried that Labour is, yet again, putting forward policies that can do then very little good at the next election but will give the Tories a lot of ammo to use against them.