Mind the gap
The rights of EU citizens to vote and stand in the UK 2021 local elections have been confirmed. Yet there is limited knowledge on EU citizens’ political participation and representation patterns in the UK.
In August and September 2020, we worked on a project funded by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust (JRRT) to investigate the political participation of EU citizens at the local authority level in England.
Our report, co-authored by Alexandra Bulat and Carl Gergs, shows how EU citizens’ participation varies across regions and identifies areas where the participation gap is likely to be most pronounced.
The research also provides some insight into the political representation of EU citizens at the local level. It gives recommendations for researchers, political rights campaigners and political stakeholders on how to build a more inclusive UK democracy.
