 (CN member) In the United Kingdom, full voting rights and rights to stand as a candidate are given to citizens of Ireland and to "qualifying" citizens of Commonwealth countries; this is because they are not regarded in law as foreigners.This is a legacy of the situation that existed before 1983 where they had the status of British subjects.For local elections, supralocal elections (Greater London Authority, Police and Crime Commissioner) and elections to devolved Parliaments and Assemblies (Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales, Northern Ireland Assembly) elections, EU citizens enjoy the same rights as Commonwealth citizens.