On Thursday, on the seventh anniversary of Britain’s EU membership referendum, Sadiq Khan published an open letter to the more than 1 million EU citizens living in the British capital of 9 million. Khan – who represents Britain’s largest opposition force, the Labor Party, at the head of the London City Council – said he was very grateful that “the Londoners of the Confederation kept their faith and continued to call London their home”, despite the “dread”. Doubts” surrounding the ability to obtain permanent stable status, in addition, the Tory government uses “anti-immigration rhetoric” and uses EU citizens living in Great Britain to improve its negotiating position.
According to the Mayor of London, EU citizens living in London are an essential part of London’s identity, history and future, who always defend their rights.
This is why he is also joining the calls to ensure the right of EU citizens living in Great Britain to vote in British parliamentary elections, said Sadiq Khan.
“You can vote in local authority and mayoral elections, and it would also be appropriate for you to have a say in who makes the laws that apply to you,” says the Mayor of London in his open letter. The same was recently advocated by another high-ranking representative of the Labor Party.
Jonathan Reynolds, the candidate for Labor shadow minister responsible for business, said on British Public Television’s Sunday political magazine program that a few weeks ago, in Labor’s view, “there are arguments in favor” that those living in Great Britain And they contribute to the growth of the country they are a part of. They can also be part of the working process for British democracy. Reynolds added that discussions were ongoing within the Labor Party on the issue as part of the development of the election programme.
Citizens of EU member states who live legally in Great Britain are required to register on the British Electoral List, just like British citizens, but can currently only vote in British local government, Welsh and Scottish legislative elections, and not in Great Britain’s national parliamentary elections. The only exception to this is the Irish nationals who live in Great Britain due to the two countries’ shared past that goes back centuries.
Great Britain left the European Union on January 31, 2020, after a slim majority of 51.89 percent voted to leave the European Union in a referendum held just seven years ago.
However, within the national average, Londoners – with a turnout of 70 per cent – voted 60 per cent for Great Britain to remain a member of the European Union.
Seven of the 10 national constituencies that voted to remain in the highest proportion were London, and some areas of the British capital – including Hackney, Lambeth and Haringey – voted for more EU membership at a rate of over 75%.
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