The need for a strategy for EU citizens
October 10th, 2007by Noel Hatch
The very large numbers of potential EU voters in London and the South East mean a huge opportunity, both to strengthen the bonds between European citizens and to influence the political balance within London and the localities. The interests of foreign residents, particularly EU foreigners, are important in the realities of the situation in London – they are sensitive to many of the qualities London needs to develop as a world city. And in a low turnout regional or local election, a mobilisation of the resident EU voters could have a strong impact on the overall result. For the parties, there is a chance to engage with a new electorate, pilot new methods of communicating and adding to the debate, and keeping in touch with the realities of London.
Political parties who wish to ask EU-foreigners for their votes and had a convincing narrative for this electorate could surely benefit from a strategy to encourage participation. Three key elements would have to be recognised in a strategy:
1. A first step would be to increase awareness amongst UK-based EU-foreigners of their democratic rights as EU-Citizens. This would serve to encourage people who make use of the right to move and work to any other EU-country, to also engage in the political process there, as an EU-citizen.
2. Secondly one would need to entice them to register with their local authority as eligible voters in order to create the formal basis for their participation in the political process in the UK, and to encourage the local authorities (in line with their duties under the Electoral Administration Act 2006) to maximise registration of these voters.
3. Finally, local authorities also have a duty to promote voting in their areas, including participation by EU voters. For the Labour Party, an electoral strategy and narrative is required to motivate this group to vote and to give incentives for why their votes should be for Labour.
watch out for the next part or read the paper here
Posted in: Ideas
2 Comments Add your own
1. francis | October 14th, 2007 at 18:37
I would rather see some Europeans elected to Parliament than some of the absolutely awful people like Ruth Kelly with IRA links we seem to be electing at the moment. Perhaps we should have a quota system - say at least 5% of MPs ( EU citizens) or a percentage equal to proportion of continentals living in the UK? They would certainly be less partisan and probably do a better job than the current load of rubbish present on all sides. At least Europeans would be elected by us rather than be imposed on us from Brussells. Perhaps this would make a good Europhile agenda, however we would have to extend full voting rights to all EU citizens to do this. I’m sure Eurosceptics would prefer this system where at least we elect Europeans rather than them being imposed on us by Brussells. Remember politicians complain about the poor quality British worker, so maybe the electorate can complain about the quality of the British politician and vote for a European politicain instead!
2. LME-LSE Blog » EU C&hellip | November 17th, 2007 at 9:13
[...] here for: The “Polish voter” - a strategy for political integration of EU citizens The need for a strategy for EU citizens Labour’s chances to capitalise Who are the european citizens in london? The hidden electorate - [...]
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