A Romanian woman wants to use her right to vote in the local election to tell politicians not to forget about the rights of EU citizens.

Elisabeth Pop, democratic engagement office for the charity HOPE not Hate has been campaigning in the run up to the elections to get more EU nationals to vote in London local elections on May 3.

On April 10 the charity had a week-long series of voter registration drives through which targeted what is classed as under-represented groups including EU citizens.

Ms Pop said that during the voter registration drive week many EU nationals did not even know they were eligible to vote and that getting more people going out to vote is healthy for democracy.

She said: “Voting is one of the pillars of integration for EU nationals.

“Local elections for EU nationals is about showing they have a voice and telling politicians not to forget about the rights of EU citizens.”

Ms Pop said that following the UK’s decision to leave the EU many EU citizens are uncertain about their rights and the rights of their children.

She said: “Although EU nationals are part of the fabric of our society they are feeling isolated, both a local and national level.”

Following the week of voter registration drives Elisabeth said the charity campaigned to try and increase voter turnout at the local London elections; the charity spoke to candidates from all political parties on local issues and asked them to pledge their support to EU nationals London-wide.

EU nationals did not have the right to vote at last years snap election or the EU referendum in 2016, and Ms Pop said that many feel disenfranchised.

She said: “If you have been contributing to the country you should have the right to vote in national elections.

“In the future we need to make sure EU nationals have the right to vote in national elections but also make sure they don’t lose the right to vote in local elections.”

Ms Pop stressed that it might also be the last election that EU citizens can vote in and if their voting rights are not secured it could see them disenfranchised further.

She added: “As an EU national myself I want to make sure I have a voice because I pay taxes. I contribute to our local community and to a wider society as a social justice campaigner.

"So I not only want to make sure I keep a democratic voice by voting but I want to make sure politicians listen and take note.”