Reading Tories push back on EU citizens right to vote post Brexit

Currently, EU citizens who are residents of the UK have the right to vote in council elections.

But that is changing with the passage of The Elections Act 2022.

The passage of the Act means that EU citizens who entered the UK from January 1, 2021 and are not covered by bilateral voting rights treaties (currently only active with Poland, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Spain) will not have voting and candidacy rights in local elections when the Elections Act is fully implemented by May 2024.

It has been argued that will create an unequal situation where some EU citizens will have the right to vote where others will not.

That has led to fears that turnout in elections will fall.

Therefore Reading councillors have voted to campaign for giving all EU citizens to vote in council elections.

READ MORE: Reading council leader disappointed with impact of ID law on voting

However, Conservative councillors chose not to support the motion, due to a suggestion in ‘part A’ of it which called on Jason Brock (Labour, Southcote), the council leader, to write to Michael Gove, the minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to extend the voting franchise for local elections to all qualifying foreign nationals in England and Northern Ireland.

Cllr Simon Robinson (Conservative, Emmer Green) argued that such action would be better served coming from Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs, therefore all Conservative councillors abstained from the vote.

He said: “Our relationship with the many countries of the EU changed when Brexit became a reality.

“On a personal level, I admit to being a Remainer, and voted to stay in the EU, as I felt it was better to fight from within, and was disappointed in the result of the referendum.

“But in a democracy we have to accept the will of the majority.”

Simon Robinson, Conservative councillor for Emmer Green ward. Credit: Reading East Conservatives

The motion was introduced by the Liberal Democrats, which also called for the council to work on communications explaining voting rights following the Elections Act, and ensure that implementation of the Act does not wrongfully remove eligible voters from the register.

Councillor James Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) argued that the Elections Act produces an “unequal situation”, whereas the motion would provide voting equity to residents.

Cllr Moore said: “Voter turnout in local elections in Reading was as low as 24 per cent in some wards in May, and having further complexity in voter eligibility will continue to cause confusion and reduce voter turnout among migrant voters a group already having a disproportionately lower voter registration rate than British voters.”

He went on to point out that Scotland and Wales have already granted all EU citizens the right to vote.

Reading Liberal Democrat councillors, all representatives for Tilehurst: Meri O Connell, new group leader James Moore and Anne Thompson. Credit: Reading Liberal Democrats

Cllr Moore also noted that cllr Jacopo Lanzoni (Labour, Caversham) is an EU citizen, given his Italian British dual citizenship.

Cllr Terry (Labour, Coley) who seconded the motion, thanked the Liberal Democrats for bringing the motion forward.

“We pride ourselves in Reading as being a welcoming town, and a town of inclusion, and actually people talk about that when they’re asked.

“It feels really at odds that we have a situation here where some of our residents are simply excluded, who’ve lost the franchise,  that’s just not the way it should be.

“I think ‘Our Home, Our Vote’ really is the right thing to say.”

Councillor Josh Williams voiced support for the motion on behalf of the Green group.

Councillors Sarah Magon and Josh Williams (both Green, Park) on a litter pick in East Reading. Credit: Reading Green Party

Cllr Williams (Green, Park) said: “We’re really happy to support this. Anyone legally resident should be legally registered to vote.

“We’re proud to welcome people to Reading from all across the world.

“We can’t put up a sign that says ‘welcome to Reading but you’re not welcome to vote, you’re not welcome to our democracy.’

“They are, they all are.”

The motion was passed at a full council meeting on Tuesday, June 27.