A million immigrants can vote next month

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The migrants from Commonwealth countries, dependent territories and the Republic of Ireland - none of whom are citizens here - have gained voting rights from a law passed in 1918.

If they are resident at a UK address, they can play a key role in deciding who wins council seats in England, as well as control of the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.

Few of their countries, however, offer British migrants the same rights - only the Republic of Ireland and several countries in the West Indies.

The anomaly last night sparked demands for change. Critics said the issue had taken on far greater importance in recent years, as a result of Labour's "open door" immigration policy.

Electoral law grants citizens from almost 50 Commonwealth countries, British Dependent Territoriesand the Republic of Ireland the right to vote in local and general elections because - in 1918 - they were classed as "British subjects".

But in the past four years, the number of Commonwealth citizens living here has rocketed by a third, with many arriving from countries such as India and Pakistan.

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, said: "Massive immigration has rendered this a very significant and sensitive issue. Most people would regard the present position as inequitable."

Sir Andrew said the law should be changed so that only those from countries with reciprocal arrangements should be allowed to vote here.

Around the same number of migrants from EU countries will also be able to vote in local and European elections, though not the General Election.