POLITICIANS are calling for changes in legislation to allow Welsh people the right to state their nationality when filling in the form required when registering to vote.
Members of Parliament Hywel Williams and Liz Saville Roberts are lobbying the UK government.
They are calling for laws to allow people who identify themselves as Welsh to state their nationality when filling-in the annual Household Enquiry Form.
At present, the UK Government form only has a 'British' box to tick, making it impossible to identify nationalities such as Welsh, Scottish, or Irish and others.
There is also a £1,000 fine if the form is not filled in correctly.
The MPs' interventions follows a question raised by Plaid Cymru Councillor Gareth Jones during Gwynedd Council’s full meeting, held recently, and who pressed for the law to be changed.
The MPs warn that the law as it currently stands risks communities across the UK feeling "disenfranchised and underrepresented."
Hywel Williams the Arfon MP and Liz Saville Roberts MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd said:
"Everyone who identifies as Welsh should be allowed to state their nationality without condition.
"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."
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