Calls for Welsh voters to be able to select nationality on government form

Voters in Wales should be given a choice of listing their nationality in a crucial but “archaic” UK Government form.

Raising the issue during a full council meeting, Cllr Gareth Jones called for changes to the ‘Household Inquiry Form’ –  sent out every year to check the right people are registered to vote.

By law it is mandatory to respond by the deadline, even if it shows the correct info, at the risk of a £1,000 fine.

At present, however, the form only has a ‘British’ box to tick, making it impossible to identify one’s nationality as Welsh, Scottish, Irish and so on.

Urging Gwynedd Council to take action over the issue,  Morfa Nefyn councillor Gareth Jones said: “Each year Gwynedd council sends out the form but under the heading of nationality, ‘British’ is printed.

“Therefore, every year the residents of Gwynedd must accept ‘British’ or pay a fine of £1,000.

“According to many constituents, it’s about time this this unpopular imposition was changed, instead of forcing everyone to accept the label of British.”

He added, ” It is timely, as we have just celebrated Saint David’s Day, our Welsh patron saint.

“Do the little things, said Dewi Sant. It is high time that the Westminster Government respected our rights to identify Gwynedd electors as Welsh, Scottish, English, British and so on.”

In response, the portfolio holder for corporate support noted that the authority holds no power to amend this, which is reproduced from the electoral register.

Cllr Nia Jeffreys went on to say that the authority has previously raised this and would be lobbying the local MP’s to follow this up, describing the current situation as “insulting”.

When approached for comment, the Electoral Commission explained that the matter was one for the UK Government to amend.

But in a joint statement, Gwynedd’s Plaid Cymru MP’s noted they would lobby decision makers.

“Everyone who identifies as Welsh should be allowed to state their nationality without condition,” said Liz Saville Roberts and Hywel Williams.

“The current wording of the electoral registration form is doing a disservice to more than half of people living in Wales, as 58% of the population identify as Welsh and not British.

“It’s of absolute importance that the electoral registration form reflects all the nations that make up the UK and as such, allows for all national identities to stand as separate choices.

“We have already taken-up this issue in Westminster and will be taking the matter forward with the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, pressing the case for legislative change.

“This is a long-standing issue which has so far been inadequately addressed. We’ll continue to lobby the UK government until this fundamental injustice is redressed.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter