Former Romford Councillor Slams MP for ‘Attacking Democracy’
Former Romford councillor David Taylor has accused Andrew Rosindell MP of “abandoning and attacking democracy” after he backed a Reform UK amendment that would strip voting rights from Commonwealth citizens living legally in Britain.
Mr Rosindell is one of the lead sponsors of the bill, which could lead to up to 20,000 Havering residents losing their right to vote, including those working for the NHS, Armed Services, and Police. The bill would remove the right of Commonwealth citizens who are not British citizens to vote in parliamentary elections and local elections in England and Wales. That would include people who are settled in Britain with indefinite leave to remain. Irish citizens would retain their voting rights.
Mr Taylor said:
“They’ll take your taxes, but they won’t let you vote.
“These are people who live here legally, work here, pay their taxes here and contribute to our communities. Some have been settled in Britain for many years and have been granted the right to remain indefinitely. Reform are saying they are good enough to pay into the system, but not good enough to have a say over how that money is spent.
“‘No taxation without representation’ helped inspire the American Revolution and has become one of the best-known principles of democratic government. The principle matters. If you contribute to a country and have legally made it your home, taking away an established democratic right should concern us.”
The Government says there are more than one million Commonwealth nationals living in the UK.
The impact would also be felt locally. Census figures show that Havering is home to nearly 20,000 people born in specifically identified Commonwealth countries, including India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya and South Africa.
Mr Taylor said:
“That’s 20,000 local taxpayers who could be stripped of their right to vote, even if they’ve been given the right to remain here permanently.
“This is a targeted attack and removal of rights from people who serve this country and our community.
“Commonwealth citizens work throughout our NHS, our police, our Armed Forces and our public services. They care for us when we are ill, keep our communities safe, serve our country and pay taxes alongside everyone else.
“Andrew Rosindell himself has previously spoken proudly in Parliament about Commonwealth citizens serving alongside British people and being prepared to sacrifice their lives in defence of this country.
“If someone can serve this country, care for us when we are ill, protect our streets, work here and pay taxes here, why should Reform be allowed to tell them they no longer deserve a vote?
“This is nationalism, not democracy. By sponsoring this bill, Mr Rosindell has abandoned and attacked democracy; he should withdraw his support for this amendment”
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