A group of eight Liverpool residents headed to London to ask for their right to vote in the UK.
The group of migrants are travelling to the country’s capital to meet with Riverside MP Kim Johnson, experience a tour of Parliament and most importantly share their stories. The tour brings together city residents originally from Ukraine, Egypt, Guatemala, El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, and Kurdistan – all of whom are currently excluded from the right to vote in England due to restrictive eligibility criteria.
Facilitated by the Migrant Democracy Project and Polish Migrants Orangise for Change (POMOC), the groups argue: “Liverpool is their home: they pay council taxes and participate in community life, yet they are excluded from having any say over local decisions affecting them”.
READ MORE: Nan forced to flee home after neighbour warned 'I'm going to kill you'
Mariia Goubernik, an activist who lives in Wavertree after fleeing Ukraine because of Russia’s full-scale invasion, said: “I am 23 and I have already fled war twice, as an internal refugee and now a refugee in the UK. Most of my family and friends are refugees and migrants, and we might stay in this status our whole lives due to political situations out of our control.
“That shouldn’t mean we are excluded from the right to vote in our home, the UK. We want to be equal and active parts of society. We want to shape our own future, we want to vote.”
Mariia, alongside seven others, will leave from Liverpool Lime Street Station on Tuesday, September 12. Wanting to participate in UK democracy and have their voices heard, they will be asking Ms Johnson to support their Our Home Our Vote campaign – calling for the extension of the right to vote to all residents, no matter their nationality. This residence-based voting rights model is already in place in countries such as Belgium, New Zealand and South Korea.
From a range of nationalities and current immigration statuses, the participants will share their stories and express their desire to participate in the democratic system.
Jared Vallejo, who came to Anfield after a gang attacked his parents in Guatemala because of his sexuality, said: "As someone who has been forced to leave my country, it would be reassuring to have a voice through the voting process. I want to have a say in democracy in the place which will hopefully end up being my new home.
“I am an asylum seeker and can’t wait to be fully part of my new home in Liverpool. For too long, I have been excluded from full rights and participation. When I get my refugee status, I want to be able to vote just like my friends from the UK, the Commonwealth and the EU.”
At the moment, only British, Irish, and Commonwealth residents can vote in general elections. Scotland and Wales have already implemented residence-based voting rights as all residents with lawful immigration status can vote in their local and devolved national elections.
Lara Parizotto, co-director of the Migrant Democracy Project, added: "This will be the third parliament tour we run in one year. These tours are incredibly powerful. Not only do they allow migrants an opportunity to learn about UK democracy and parliamentary history, but they also give space to those who are most disenfranchised and marginalised through hostile environment policies a chance to access the heart of British politics and have their voice heard.
“It is profoundly unfair that people can be excluded from the franchise simply because of their nationality. When taxes are charged, the UK government does not discriminate based on nationality. So why should they do so with the right to vote?”
Sign up for the ECHO’s LGBTQIA+ newsletter
Win a 5-night holiday to the Turkish coast at Cook’s Club Adakoy Hotel