IB Times
January 21, 2014
Pro-EU campaigners are encouraging hundreds of thousands of European migrants in Britain to vote in the country’s European elections, in a bid to defeat Ukip and Eurosceptic candidates.
Up to 450,000 Poles, as well as Britain’s sizeable diasporas of Italian, German, Spanish, Bulgarian and Romanian migrants, are being urged to vote in the May elections after UK Prime Minister David Cameron called for limits to their benefits, according to The Sunday Times.
Migrants are being sent letters stating: “This may be your last chance to vote in Britain” and “Your future and that of your family, community and friends may depend on it.”
The Polish campaign, called “Vote! You are at Home”, is being launched by a coalition of community groups headed by the Federation of Poles in Great Britain.
Campaign coordinator Maciek Bator said letters would be sent to every European parliamentary candidate asking for their views on issues such as cutting migrants’ benefits.
Plans are underway to deliver leaflets detailing candidates’ attitudes towards Europe at polling booths on election day. Target seats are being drawn up in areas with a strong Polish presence, including Ealing in west London, Boston in Lincolnshire, Southampton and Bristol.
Mass campaigns on social networking sites, among student groups and in churches are also planned.