New Immigrant Voters Aim to Impact UK Elections 2024

Post by: Elena Malik

Photo : Reuters

In London, first-time immigrant voters like Prathesh Paulraj eagerly anticipate their participation in the upcoming July 4th British election, viewing it as a chance to influence change in their adopted homeland. Paulraj, 27, arrived in Britain from India last year and is enthusiastic about exercising his voting rights, which were unavailable to him in his native country.

The opposition Labour Party is widely anticipated to clinch a decisive victory, poised to replace Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party after its 14-year tenure in power. Immigrants, including refugees from Commonwealth nations like Nigeria, India, and Malaysia—former territories of the British Empire—are eligible to cast their ballots in British elections.

Paulraj, currently working part-time as a university ambassador in Manchester, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to vote in Britain, contrasting it with voting restrictions in India. "In my country, they don't allow people from other countries to vote," he remarked, highlighting the inclusive electoral practices in the UK.

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Another voter, Teh Wen Sun, a 33-year-old Malaysian student in Salford near Manchester, acknowledged minimal policy differences between the major parties but emphasized her preference for a party that embraces immigrants more openly.

The issue of immigration remains a contentious topic in British politics, with Prime Minister Sunak pledging to reduce net migration levels if re-elected. Concerns over immigration's strain on public services like the National Health Service, housing, and education have influenced these policies, including tighter visa regulations and controversial proposals such as sending asylum seekers to Rwanda.

For Oyinkansola Dirisu, 31, a support worker in Manchester who arrived in Britain in 2022, supporting Labour in the upcoming election is about advocating for policies that facilitate easier migration for individuals like herself.

However, not all immigrant voters have made up their minds. Esther Offem, 26, who moved from Nigeria last September, remains undecided, citing a perceived lack of substantial progress from any party in areas of personal interest. "None (of the parties) have done much in the areas that I'm most interested in. But at the moment, I would probably go for the Conservatives ... I'm not sure yet," she admitted.

As the election approaches, these diverse voices among first-time immigrant voters underscore the significance of their participation in shaping Britain's political landscape and policies affecting their lives.

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