Numbers never lie – and these ones are impossible to ignore. More than 4 million people across the UK are unable to vote for their Members of Parliament, and 1.2 million cannot vote in any election at all, not even for their local councillors. For those affected, this is not an abstract statistic. It is a daily reminder of exclusion. If this is not reason enough for a mass lobby, what would be?
On 20 April 2026, I travelled from Mossley, Greater Manchester, to Westminster for a national lobby demanding an expansion of voting rights. It was my second visit in just over a month. My first, on 11 March, was with the group Greater Manchester Refugees and Asylum Seekers Together! (GReAT!), to oppose proposals for Earned Settlement. In November 2025, the Home Secretary announced plans that would make it much harder for people to settle in the UK.
My second trip to Westminster
This time, I joined RAS Voice, a refugee and asylum seeker led campaign group, supported by Refugee Action, which advocates for a fair and compassionate asylum system: for advances in racial justice, and amplification of refugee rights through public engagement, campaigns and storytelling.
It was my first involvement with RAS Voice, after their coordinator invited me to volunteer with the group during my earlier mass-lobby visit to the same place. The invitation came as part of their effort to strengthen ongoing advocacy work – a mission that aligns deeply with my own purpose. The 20th April lobby, however, was organised by the Migrant Democracy Project (MDP).
Engaging with MPs on the subject of Votes for All
Founded in 2022, MDP works to ensure migrants can participate fully in the democratic process. For weeks leading up to the lobby the organisation mobilised individuals and groups across the UK, prepared participants, drafted letters for MPs, and coordinated logistics. The date was symbolic: the final day to register to vote. The message was clear – democracy must not exclude those who live, work, and contribute to this country.
By midday, 110 people from every corner of the UK gathered at Victoria Tower Gardens South. The atmosphere was energised, hopeful, and determined. The briefing included speeches from people with lived experience, and from political figures who support expanding voting rights. Among them was Manuela Perteghella MP, who has tabled an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill, to extend voting rights to all residents. She spoke about her own journey from Italy to the UK, from migrant to advocate to MP – a story that resonated deeply with the crowd.
Another long-serving parliamentarian, Baroness Lister, a leading expert in social policy and poverty, who has served in the House of Lords since 2011, also addressed the gathering, expressing full support for the Votes for All campaign.
At 1:30pm, participants entered Parliament in groups organised by region. Security was tight due to the presence of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and many MPs were occupied with parliamentary business. Even so, MDP confirmed that 24 MPs engaged directly with us, hearing firsthand why migrant voting rights matter, and why the Votes for All amendment deserves their support. It was a promising start.
Standing in Westminster that day, surrounded by people who share the same hope for a fairer democratic system, I felt proud to be part of a historic moment. But pride alone is not enough. Everyone present understood that meaningful change requires persistence. Rights are rarely handed over freely – they are won through consistent, collective effort.
Votes for All to allow all people to shape their lives
The campaign for Votes for All is far from over. If anything, the urgency has never been greater. Millions remain voiceless in decisions that shape their lives. It is time to stand together, speak louder, and push harder until every resident of the UK has a say in the democracy they are part of.
The struggle continues – and so does our determination.
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