Political hustings to be held for EU voters in Northampton ahead of local elections

A virtual political hustings will take place for European Union voters in Northampton ahead of this year’s local council elections.

Campaign group, ‘the3million’, has organised the hustings as part of the #OurHomeOurVote campaign to mobilise EU citizens to vote in the West Northamptonshire Council elections on May 6.

Danielle Stone (Labour), Stewart Tolley (Liberal Democrat), Jonathan Nunn (Conservative) and Katie Simpson (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) will all attend the virtual hustings tomorrow (March 23).

Alexandra Bulat, co-Manager of the3million’s youth wing, said: “When I arrived in the UK from Romania at 18 years old, I did not know I could vote or be involved in UK politics.

“There have been over 800,000 applications to the EU Settlement Scheme from Romanians, but we only found two Romanian elected representatives in the UK.

“Four million potential voters feel forgotten. We are here to change this, we want all EU citizens to contribute to politics where they live.

“Local politics should reflect the communities it represents.”

The group hopes that the hustings will help EU voters make an informed decision, especially as many EU nationals are unaware that they are able to vote in local elections.

Brexit has added this confusion and these local elections will be the last time EU citizens will be able to vote.

Robert Iatan, a Romanian student living in Northampton, who joined the Young Europeans Network to volunteer on spreading awareness of voting rights, added: “For me, and for many of us, this is our home.

“And because this is our home, I believe that we should stop feeling like we are simply guests in this country, and that we don’t have a right to point out the things that affect us simply because we don’t have a British passport.

“One of the best ways to affect change in your local area is to vote, which is why I will vote in the local elections.”

The hustings will be held virtually from 5pm tomorrow (March 23) and is open to anyone, although mainly aimed at EU voters.

More information about how to join can be found here.

the3million is also organising hustings in other areas with high numbers of EU residents but low levels of political engagement, including in Corby on March 31.

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