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<p>The UK pushed hard in negotiations to include the right to stand and vote in local
elections for UK nationals living in the EU, and EU citizens in the UK, but they will
not be included in the Withdrawal Agreement as the Commission said it was out of scope.</p><p>The
Government has made clear that we will pursue bilateral arrangements with individual
Member States. Ministers have written to all member states to offer bilateral agreements
on local voting rights.</p><p>We have now reached an agreement with Spain that will
secure the rights of UK nationals living in Spain, and Spanish citizens living in
the UK, to stand and vote in local elections. This is a positive step forward in our
future relationship with Spain and we hope this will be the first of many similar
bilateral agreements with other Member States.</p><p>As we continue to pursue these
bilateral agreements, we can confirm that EU citizens in the UK will continue to be
able to vote and stand in England and Northern Ireland’s May 2019 local elections.</p><p>The
Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly are responsible for their own franchises.</p><p>
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