Freedom of movement within Commonwealth countries popular with UK citizens

YouGov wrote:Freedom of movement within Commonwealth more popular than within EU

Most British people support Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia having freedom of movement between each other’s countries

With New Zealand starting the process of deciding whether to the keep the Union Jack in the corner of its flag, and Australia abandoning Knights and Dames, it may feel like a challenging time for the Commonwealth. But a recent campaign to remove visa restrictions between the UK, Australia and New Zealand is seeking to replace the old image of imperialism with a mutually beneficial focus on cultural connections and the economic advantages of labour mobility. Chosen for their shared language, government and common law legal systems and similar cultural values, freedom of movement between the four nations is the subject of a Commonwealth Exchange report, based on an idea by Boris Johnson, and has achieved the backing of 35,000 people in a petition.

New YouGov research reveals that freedom of movement between the four Commonwealth countries is significantly more popular than the corresponding arrangement with the European Union.

A majority (58%) of British people say that British, Canadian, New Zealand and Australian citizens should enjoy similar freedom of movement rules as currently exist between EU member nations. Only 19% oppose. In contrast, 46% support current EU freedom of movement rules, while 35% oppose.

Freedom of movement between Britain and the US is also less likely to be opposed than between Britain and the EU, although research by YouGov in America finds the idea more popular in the US than in Britain. Most American people (56%) say they would support an international agreement to move and work freely with British people, while support in Britain stands at 45%.

Americans are more likely to support free movement rules with Canada (67%) and Australia (60%), however.

In 2013 Boris Johnson wrote about a ‘disgraceful’ situation where an Australian teacher he’d been in correspondence with had to leave Britain because of difficulties attaining sponsorship. Noting the cultural similarities between British and Australian people when visiting the country, he wrote: “I meet people who watch Top Gear, who have fundamentally the same view of the world, basically the same set of assumptions, the same sense of humour, and… the same language” – reaching a freedom of movement agreement would, he said, “be an assertion that we are no longer thinking of ourselves as little Europeans, run by Brussels, but as a country with a truly global perspective.”

https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/11/19/ma ... -movement/

I wonder if such schemes would ever see the light of day. Kinda surprising though how more from the US would rather come here than us go over there, don't you think?

Would that be just the rich Commonwealth countries or are people happy for freedom of movement from Cameroon, Rwanda, Pakistan and Malaysia?

I would be out of this shithole so strawberry floating quick.

I think it's OUTRAGEOUS we can't gain automatic entry to places like Bermuda, & Turks & Caicos Islands. Severe lack of perks retaining these British Overseas Territories, I tell ya...

I should just be able to flash my passport and have a butler pick me up. You know, like the old days. Probably.

Moggy wrote:Would that be just the rich Commonwealth countries or are people happy for freedom of movement from Cameroon, Rwanda, Pakistan and Malaysia?

Just the rich ones please. Oh and new Zealand

Return_of_the_STAR wrote:
Moggy wrote:Would that be just the rich Commonwealth countries or are people happy for freedom of movement from Cameroon, Rwanda, Pakistan and Malaysia?

Just the rich ones please. Oh and new Zealand

This sort of madness would allow Manny into our great nation.

strawberry float that gooseberry fool. :dread:

Yeah, just the rich countries.
Oh if it were ever that freedom of work like the EU was implemented I would jet off to Canada so quickly.

Canada has always been a favourite destination for Brits wanting to emigrate, probably because it nicely straddles that line of being a bit American and a bit English...with some French thrown in.

My cousins lives in Canada. They're rich & successful and I never see them. Not jealous though...noooooooooo.

KK wrote:Canada has always been a favourite destination for Brits wanting to emigrate, probably because it nicely straddles that line of being a bit American and a bit English...with some French thrown in.

My cousins lives in Canada. They're rich & successful and I never see them. Not jealous though...noooooooooo.

Canada is great in everyway except the weather I just dont think I could put up with it.

My wife's best friend moved there a couple of years ago. They have a gorgeous new built house with several acres of land. All built for less than my 3 bed semi. Incomes are higher there but most things cost less. Plus it is definitely a country for the future in terms of natural resources, gas, oil and wood. It doesn't have to rely on anyone else.

Not much of a surprise. Culturally very similar and countries that a lot of Brits can see themselves moving to.

While we're in the EU though this might not be too popular with Can/Aus/NZ.

Return_of_the_STAR wrote:
KK wrote:Canada has always been a favourite destination for Brits wanting to emigrate, probably because it nicely straddles that line of being a bit American and a bit English...with some French thrown in.

My cousins lives in Canada. They're rich & successful and I never see them. Not jealous though...noooooooooo.

Canada is great in everyway except the weather I just dont think I could put up with it.

Depends where you are, surely? In some places it's hotter than here, some places a lot colder. The weather can't be that much shittier/bleak than here.

I'm against this, it's unrealistic and a logistical nightmare. NZ has a population of under 5 million, the last thing it needs is an invasion of Brits & Yanks.

Yeah Im for this

SMPL wrote:I'm against this, it's unrealistic and a logistical nightmare. NZ has a population of under 5 million, the last thing it needs is an invasion of Brits & Yanks.

To be fair I think most people here were more interested in Canada or Australia.

I'd be in Canada like a shot. Loved it when I visited a few years back. Spent just over a month with family and it was fantastic. Beautiful country.

Would this replace the EU arrangement or augment it?

I think we should have freedom of movement and trade with as many countries as is economically and culturally viable. That means Western and Northern Europe, the Dominions, and (as long as they don't slip anything evil into the treaty...) the United States.

Arguably this could be extended to Singapore and South Korea too. (And Japan, but I can't help but feel there is no way they would ever sign up to anything that might encourage immigration...)

Backed this before it was cool. Would be great, why not?

Karl wrote:Would this replace the EU arrangement or augment it?

Seems it would more likely be a replacement as no way in a month of Sunday's would Australia, Canada, NZ or even the US go for it with the current method (EU citizens would be able to back-door in through the UK).

Lotus wrote:Not much of a surprise. Culturally very similar and countries that a lot of Brits can see themselves moving to.

While we're in the EU though this might not be too popular with Can/Aus/NZ.

Return_of_the_STAR wrote:
KK wrote:Canada has always been a favourite destination for Brits wanting to emigrate, probably because it nicely straddles that line of being a bit American and a bit English...with some French thrown in.

My cousins lives in Canada. They're rich & successful and I never see them. Not jealous though...noooooooooo.

Canada is great in everyway except the weather I just dont think I could put up with it.

Depends where you are, surely? In some places it's hotter than here, some places a lot colder. The weather can't be that much shittier/bleak than here.

I think everywhere in canada has colder winters than the uk. They have warmer summers though in most of the main populated parts.

To be fair though Brits are really lucky, it's not that hard for any of us to move to these countries anyway if we really want to.

I love living here. Wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Canada would be so dead against this, surely?

Freedom of movement within Commonwealth countries popular with UK citizens

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