Liberal Democrats are concerned about the rights of EU citizens to stand and vote in local elections after March next year. Below is a motion from the St Albans Lib Dem Group that you might like to table at your council, and following that is a letter sent by the Local Government Association to the Government on the issue.
COUNCIL MOTION: EU CITIZENS AND BREXIT
This Council recognises the invaluable contribution of EU citizens working in jobs that provide Council services to residents.
This Council therefore:
- Pledges to support and protect all EU citizens who live or work in the District, throughout and after the Brexit process;
- Confirms that it believes that all EU citizens in the District should retain their right to vote in and be candidates in local elections;
- Requests Cabinet to explore ways in which it can help EU citizens in the District apply for permanent residence and citizenship.”
CROSS-PARTY LETTER SENT BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION TO THE GOVERNMENT
Rishi Sunak MP
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
24 July 2018
Dear Rishi,
I was very pleased to meet you with the leaders of the other local government associations recently.
One issue that I raised at the meeting was voting rights at the local government elections in 2019.
You will know that there is some uncertainty about the rights of EU citizens to stand and vote in local elections from 2019. We understand that the draft Withdrawal Treaty states that relevant clauses in the EU Treaty will not apply after March 2019. However, these rights are enshrined in UK law, under the Representation of the People Act, which will remain.
We are also aware that in Wales, the Welsh Government has consulted on proposals and is seeking to legislate to allow EU nationals and, indeed, any nationality who reside in Wales to be able to register and vote in Welsh local elections. In Scotland COSLA has raised the broad issue with the Scottish Government who are also proposing similar discussions about the voting right of those normally resident there. In Northern Ireland, NILGA has highlighted the issue to the main political parties (in the absence of a Legislative Assembly).
We understand that future rights could be set out in bilateral agreements between the UK and the EU27. We would like to discuss the impact this might have on the work of councils’ electoral registration services.
The most urgent issue is the 2019 elections. Whilst we are assuming that the tenure of EU nationals already elected will remain, at least, until the end of their term, we do need to understand the rules for those seeking election next year. Parties are currently selecting their candidates for 2019 and there is much uncertainty about the eligibility rules to stand in municipal elections.
We welcome any resident who wants to participate in local civic life. It will be very difficult if candidates are selected and later asked to stand down because of a change in rules.
I would be very grateful if you could help clarify this urgent issue.