EU nationals living in Britain would be able to vote in general elections under plans being drawn up by Labour.
Keir Starmer will look at plans to shake up voting rules, including letting settled migrants and 16 and 17 year olds take part in general elections.
EU citizens who live permanently in the UK and pay tax would be covered under the plan, which could affect around 3.4 million people who had 'settled status' as of December 2022.
Another 2.7 million people have 'pre-settled status', where they are allowed to work and live in the UK but it expires after five years if they haven't applied for full settled status.
It could also include some 1.4 million 16 and 17-year-olds, boosting the size of the electorate by more than 8%.
Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said proposals to expand the voting franchise are "something we will look at".
"I think there are arguments for expanding the franchise,” he told Sky News's Sophy Ridge On Sunday.
“I think we should always be seeking to involve as many people as possible in our democracy. It's something we will look at.”
Pollster Professor Sir John Curtice said the idea would benefit Labour as Europeans and young people were more likely to back the party.
If you can't see the poll, click here
“The presumption we all have, rightly or wrongly, is that they’re more likely to be opposed to Brexit, and therefore less likely to vote for the Conservative Party,” he told the Telegraph.
But Mr Reynolds hit back, saying: "I don't think any changes to how the British state works, how democracy works, should ever be considered through any kind of party political lens."
Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said the Government had no plans to change the system and accused Mr Starmer of trying to reopen the Brexit settlement.
He said: "This is a settlement we had made with EU countries to have reciprocal arrangements so that British citizens abroad are able to vote in for example the local elections say in Spain and the same here.
"What he plans to do is actually reopen the Brexit Settlement. So, what else will he reopen?"
EU citizens can already vote in local council elections, and younger people can vote in parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales.
Mr Starmer backed “full voting rights for EU nationals” during his bid to be Labour leader in 2020 - and letting 16 and 17-year-olds vote was in the party's 2019 manifesto.
But Mr Starmer has since said he's tearing up Labour's manifesto, telling an event last summer: "We’re starting from scratch. The slate is wiped clean."
Earlier this month he made it clear that he was abandoning a vow to axe university tuition fees.
A Labour spokesman said: “Keir fundamentally believes that if you work hard and contribute to this country, not only should you be able to get on, but it is fair and right that you should also have a say in decisions being made for your community.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted: "European citizens are our neighbours, our friends and our colleagues. They contribute hugely to our economy and enrich our society.
"They can already vote in local and Mayoral elections - and it is only right they should have their say by voting in general elections too."
* Follow Mirror Politics on Snapchat, Tiktok, Twitter and Facebook
