Foreign voters to decide elections: Four million migrants could swing key constituencies

FOR the first time ever, more than half the voters in two constituencies in May’s General Election will be born outside of the UK.

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There are half a million more foreign voters compared to the last General Election

Research from the University of Manchester found in East Ham and Brent North, both in London, the majority of the electorate are migrants.

Four million foreign voters are set to take part in May’s General Election, an increase of 500,000 in the past five years, representing one in ten of the electorate.

In a further 25 seats migrants will constitute more than a third of voters and at least a quarter in another 50 seats, according to the study.

The study went on to state that those born overseas could decide elections in 20 key constituencies.

Indian, Pakistani, Irish and Bangladeshi migrants make up the majority of the foreign-born electorate. Despite citizens of over 50 sovereign nations holding the right to vote in Britain, Britons remain unable to vote in India, Pakistan, Australia and Canada.

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More and more migrants are also choosing to take up British citizenship

This electorate is only going to become more significant

Robert Ford, co-author of the report

68 per cent of migrant voters backed Labour in the last election, according to a survey by Runnymede Trust, an anti-racism organisation.

Co-author of the report, Robert Ford, told The Guardian: ‘Migrant voters are almost as numerous as current Ukip supporters, but they are widely overlooked and risk being increasingly disaffected by mainstream politics and the fierce rhetoric around immigration caused partly by the rise of Ukip.

‘Ukip have made all the running with the immigration debate in the past few years and we have seen all of the parties looking to offer a harder line on migrants. But there is another side to this debate – millions of hardworking British citizens who came to this country from abroad who find this kind of rhetoric profoundly alienating.

‘If the parties do not respond to that then they face lasting damage as this electorate is only going to become more significant.’

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