A poll in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, shows that the people support free movement between the countries, in a similar style to the EU.
The survey was commissioned by the Royal Commonwealth Society in London, with its results showing that 70% of Australians, 82% of New Zealanders and 75% of Canadians support the EU free Movement style. Britain’s support for the move ranked lowest, with just 58% in favour, but still the majority.
At the moment, the UK is currently in a migration crisis with EU membership giving all Europeans access to live and work in the UK and receive benefits. This could be halted following the referendum in June, to decide whether the UK remains in the EU or not.
There are fears the referendum will overshadow The Queen’s 90th birthday.
Lord Howell of Guildford, president of the Royal Commonwealth Society said: “We need to welcome our friends with open arms when they visit us, and, in doing so, work to ensure as much free mobility as possible.”
However former Australian foreign minister and now High Commissioner to the UK, Alexander Downer said that: “exempting countries from visas could be bad for Australia’s border security.
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“If we had exemptions … we wouldn’t know who was coming in from that country in advance. We have to manage our borders in a coherent sensible way. We’re not about to change those arrangements for anybody.”
Mr Downer said there is a “sense of disappointment” among Australians since it is not easy to have a UK working visa as it was before, despite sharing a Head of State and much history.
“If the British want Australian companies to continue to invest very strongly in the UK they should think about making sure their visa arrangements are liberal enough that Australian investors are able to bring Australians over to help run those businesses”
A spokesman for the Mayor said that Boris Johnson was particularly keen for a migration deal to be trialled between just Australia and UK, with the potential to extended to other countries, adding Commonwealth citizens so that they contribute to London’s culture and community, one of the most diverse in the world.
What are your thoughts?
1 comment
i’d love free movement between countries in the commonwealth but it must be selective for now, start off small and then expand so maybe nz/Australia first then Canada , i’m sure there is something we can arrange with the other countries, i want out of the eu though.