Who cares about the Commonwealth anyways?

[Omoikane]

So Pakistan has been kicked out, and I see talk of them “pleading” to be given more time so they could stay in, and various officials saying it was a “difficult decision”.

But what difference does it actually make? Is it purely symbolic? What are the benefits to being in this Commonwealth, what do they lose?

[River_Hister]

It makes it easier for its citizens to leave Pakistan, for a start, which is surely the aim of anyone who lives there!

[psychonaut]

@Omoikane

So Pakistan has been kicked out, and I see talk of them “pleading” to be given more time so they could stay in, and various officials saying it was a “difficult decision”.

Technically, they haven’t been expelled, but merely suspended.

[psychonaut]

@Omoikane

But what difference does it actually make? Is it purely symbolic? What are the benefits to being in this Commonwealth, what do they lose?

I’m sure there are some benefits at the national level, but it matters to individual citizens as well. Most Commonwealth countries extend to each other the right of visa-free entry for their citizens, and also (for residents) the right to vote and stand for political office. So, for example, until the recent suspension, a citizen of Pakistan resident in the UK could stand or vote in British elections.

[Baron_Greenback]

Oddly, Mozambique - a former Portugueuse colony - applied to and successfully joined the Commonwealth in 1996, and Francophone Rwanda has an application being considered at the current Commonwealth Summit in Uganda. I believe, but have no cite to hand, that Yemen also has an application pending (although parts of Yemen have been in British hands in the past). I guess that those countries see some benefit.*

*It may well be that Rwanda is just trying to piss off the French though!

[MrDibble]

We (South Africa) were booted out during the Apartheid years, and successfully reapplied after democracy. The only advantage to me, personally, has been visa-free entry to England so far. Which is plenty, when I consider the hoops I had to go through to get a Schengen visa for the rest of Europe.

[APB]

@psychonaut

So, for example, until the recent suspension, a citizen of Pakistan resident in the UK could stand or vote in British elections.

Actually, they can still stand or vote in British elections. Indeed, they would still be able to do so as Commonwealth citizens even if Pakistan is expelled from the Commonwealth.

This is what the parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Justice had to say on the subject in the Commons earlier this year.

*The Representation of the People Act 1983 provides that those entitled to register and vote in elections in the United Kingdom (UK) include citizens of Commonwealth countries who are lawfully resident here.

The definition of a Commonwealth country for electoral purposes is that it should be included as such in the list contained in schedule 3 to the British Nationality Act 1981. It follows that those citizens of a country that has been expelled or suspended from the Commonwealth who are lawfully resident in the UK remain eligible to vote in UK elections unless the 1981 Act is amended specifically to delete from schedule 3 the name of that country.*

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070515/text/70515w0013.htm

[An_Gadai]

@Struan

*It may well be that Rwanda is just trying to piss off the French though!

Do you not mean the Belgians?

[Baron_Greenback]

It’s the French that they’ve been falling out with recently.

[An_Gadai]

Ignorance fought. Thank you Struan.

[alphaboi867]

@MrDibble

We (South Africa) were booted out during the Apartheid years, and successfully reapplied after democracy. The only advantage to me, personally, has been visa-free entry to England so far. Which is plenty, when I consider the hoops I had to go through to get a Schengen visa for the rest of Europe.

South Africa wasn’t quite expelled (there’s no provision for a country to be expelled). When a Commonwealth Realm abolishes the monarchy (as South Africa did in 1961) it’s membership automatically lapses and it must appy for membership. South Africa chose not to though even if it did it’s application would have likely been refused.