Why Nigerians Should Be Concerned About UK Election
- The UK has gone into the general election, and the Labour Party has become the choice of the majority in the kingdom
- However, Nigerians needed to be concerned about the general election in the UK, particularly for policies on migration and education
- This is because out of the 1.2 million Africans who migrated to the UK, 141,000 were Nigerians
London, UK - On Thursday, July 4, the United Kingdom (UK) holds its general election. The poll is to elect Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons. Millions of UK voters go to the polls to elect the 650 MPs who will sit in the House of Commons.
The UK is divided into 650 areas, referred to as constituencies. Each constituency will elect one MP to represent local residents. Most candidates represent a political party, but some are independent candidates.
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According to the BBC Pidgin, political parties that contested the elections presented their manifestoes and outlined policies, two of which will impact Nigerians. Here are some key issues that matter to you:
Migration policies that may affect Nigerians
If elected, the Conservative and Labour parties have promised to reduce the number of people migrating to the UK. The Conservatives aim to attract the brightest and best-skilled migrants to contribute to businesses and public services. They plan to achieve this by setting legal limits on migration and reducing the number of work and family visas issued yearly.
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In contrast, the Labour Party plans to reform the points-based immigration system and end the long-term reliance on overseas workers. The Scottish National Party (SNP) wants Scotland to have the power to attract more foreign migrants and plans to reinstate free movement from the EU and issue visas with minimal hassle.
Nigerians schooling in the UK
Currently, international students in the UK are eligible for a graduate visa that allows them to stay in the country for at least two years after graduation. Only those on post-graduate research programmes can bring their family members to the country.
The major parties have not mentioned changing this policy, but Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has promised to ban students from bringing their partners and children to the UK. On the other hand, the Green Party wants to allow students to bring their families and grant visa holders the right to vote.
How many Nigerians travelled to UK in 2013
In 2023, out of the 1.2 million Africans who migrated to the UK, 141,000 were Nigerians, the highest number from any African country and the second-highest from non-European Union countries after India.
Peter Obi speaks on UK election
Legit.ng earlier reported that the former Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi surprised many by endorsing the Labour Party ahead of the upcoming UK election.
Obi cited Labour's progressive policies and commitment to addressing national issues for his endorsement.
Nigerians have taken to social media to share varied reactions to Peter Obi's endorsement of Labour.
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Source: Legit.ng
