Oral Answers to Questions — Commonwealth and Southern Irish Residents (Franchise)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 28 November 1961.

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Photo of Mr Harold Macmillan Mr Harold Macmillan , Bromley 12:00, 28 November 1961

There are two categories of residents in this country—that is quite true. A Commonwealth citizen, if resident here, is entitled to vote because he is a British subject. That comes under the British Nationality Act, 1948. But a Southern Irish citizen resident in this country is also entitled to vote, although not, of course, a British citizen. That comes under the Ireland Act, 1949, which has the effect that citizens of the Irish Republic continue to have the same rights as British subjects.