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Resident in Australia but still very much a Brit - why can't I vote?
When I was advised last year that I had reached the 15 year limit I wrote to my MP pointing out that as an ex-serviceman my pension is taxed at source and what ever happened to 'no taxation without representation'.
After much to-ing and fro-ing I got a reply from the Justice Departmenmt saying that the principle of 'no taxation without representation' was not recognised!! It seems the UK government has learned nothing since they lost the merican colonies.
From what I can see the French system of voting is far more democratic than in the UK. When I wrote a letter to the voting office I was told that now that I had retired to France I would lose interest in the politics of the UK. I was under the impression that the UK was part of Europe & find the attitude of my own country patronizing in the extreem to its own nationals.
I have no vote here in Denmark as Danes will not permit dual nationality and only Danish passport holders can vote and I cannot vote at home either..
We, the citizens of Great Britain, were given the right to chose where we live, work or retire within the E.U.
But if we exercise that right, we automatically loose our vote in the UK.
A , 'Catch Twenty Two.' if ever I saw one.
My husband, who is 86, worked until he was 72, and paid UK taxes all his working life.
Having served for four years in WW2, he now finds himself deprived of the rights and benefits of a UK citizen.
We are in resident in France and wonder where is loyalty and pride in UK these days. Whenever we return to UK we see it slowly being eroded by immigrants, bad attitudes, poor maintenance and overcrowding, etc and we're always glad to get back HOME to France but that doesn't mean WE do not care what happens there. Our families and friends still live there and we feel that we should have a say in solving these problems, by voting at least, to give them a better life. After all, we have contributed both financially and personally to the UK system over many years so deserve some consideration and loyalty in return.
Disenfranchised Resident in France
Resident in France.
International Civil Servant in Austria for 33 years; solely UK passport. If I don't get the vote back before I retire in 2015 I won't be paying UK tax on my pension, that's for sure.
Belgium
Spain
I fully support this petition. Even though I have lived in Canada since 1966 I have chosen to remain a British citizen and have also gone 'home' to live for three years during that time (and paid taxes) and also pay regular visits home, some of those visits have lasted three months or more. It should make no difference in how long a British citizen lives abroad in allowing voting rights.
.....as a British citizen we all should have the right to vote irrespective where we chose to retire outside of the EU.....again we have been let down by past and present UK Government as we still pay our taxes without having access to representation in Parliment by being disfranchised etc......
I have lived and taught in Germany for some 30 years and have always been angry at being disenfranchised. I have only ever voted on one general election in my life - before moving to Germany. People serving prison sentences have more voting rights than Brits living abroad. That can not be right. I think European law should stipulate that we can at least choose where we vote in a general election - but at present we have no choice and just have no voice.
It is also somewhat funny to read that we should write to our MP and complain about the situation - but which MP is meant? No one is representing me at present.
I was born in London and went to school with Hilary Benn. I regularly come back to UK to visit family. I feel that I am an ambassador for GB, teaching English in all parts of industry. Most Germans are very shocked when they hear that the ex-pats are seemingly non-existent for the political system in UK.
Thanks for this web-site - it's a great idea. I wrote to Tony Blair, and a member of the European parliament about the problem years ago but never received an answer.
Originally from Scotland, I have been living and working in France, Belgium and Italy since 1989. I have been working in Italy since 1997. I have not planned this, and do not intend to stay permanently in Italy, and certainly not to change my nationality.
My colleagues from other countries (Australia, France, Belgium etc.) regularly vote in national elections in their own country. As a resident here, I, like them, have the right to vote in local elections here. But I cannot vote for the Italian national or regional assemblies, because these are open to Italian nationals only.
I am the only non-italian I know here who is not able to vote in parliamentary elections for his own country: in my case this means Westminster AND Edinburgh. As things currently stand, in order to have the right to vote in the referundum planned on Independance for Scotland I would need to leave my job, give up my livelyhood and return - unemployed - to Scotland.
So much for the free movement of workers !
I have lived in Brussels since 1998 and until last year was working for UK local government over here. I still pay tax in UK and as President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium, I can confirm that we all support UK business interests here.
I have always voted, but will very soon no longer be able to do so. Having a vote is a fundamental right in a civilised democracy, so I wholly support this campaign.
"No taxation without representation"!
I live in France but having paid UK taxes all my working life I see no reason why I am robbed of my democratic right to vote on British matters that still continue to affect me e.g pensions.
Live in US since 1986 and unfortunately failed to register for future voting. I wanted to vote so badly in the last election but the outcome was what I desired, somewhat. Anyway, yes, it would help the Tories a lot dilute the effect of all the induced immigration promoted by Blair's Labour in a blatant attempt to keep the Tories out of power.
I do plan on returning to the UK upon retirement and register to vote, however, this should be an inherent right without an expiration date.
Like others who have made comments on this site I have a British Government pension and will have to pay tax in the UK for the rest of my life and if I die before my wife she will continue to pay tax on the pension she receives in the UK for the rest of her life. I live in Spain and am not allowed to vote in national elections here so why should I have to pay tax with no representation in either country
Since I reached adulthood, I have voted at every single election, national and local, until after 15 years of living in France, I lost my right to vote. I think it absolutely outrageous. I pay taxes in the UK, and I take a keen interest in politics, yet I am now treated as a non-person. It is high time this ridiculous law was changed.
Living in Spain I can vote in local elections but have no vote in U.K. where is the justice in that?
I presently reside in Spain and look to the UK government to assist as far as possible in pressing the Spanish to sort out the dreadful problems of illegal houses that blight my retirement.
As a former local government officer and also civil servant I am obliged to pay income tax upon my pensions to the UK government. In return I consider that it would be fair for me to to retain, permanently, my UK voting rights.
I have so far always exercised my voting rights and have also actively contacted UK and EU parliamentarians.
The EU is all about the freedom of movement of goods, services and people within the continent so as to be more competitive against our larger economic rivals. To disenfrancise British people who are working outside Britain in one of our EU partner countries seems a very strange way of living up to these principles.
Yes, I agree that the majority of British expats do promote the UK. I personally, together with a group of British friends, do our best for the upkeep of the St. George's Anglican Church in Taormina, Italy - we have a sister Anglican church in Palermo. Nearly all of us are involved or have been involved in the teaching of the English language and we certainly promote the UK in many ways. I definitely feel that British expats should have the opportunity to vote in Britain. The Italian system allows and encourages their expats to vote in both the domestic and European elections, even university students have a discounted rail ticket to return home to vote. We would all relish the idea of voting at home, because there is no doubt that we are true Brits at heart and remain British citizens.
After 41 years of living in Germany, I still consider myself a Brit. I vote in Germany at the local community and state elections, and also in the German EU elections. I would rejoice at the chance to vote at home again!!!
Saying that some expats lose their connection with UK as time goes on (and thus don't want/need to have a vote) is not the point. Registering to vote would still not be compulsory, it would be up to the individual; those that didn't care need not apply ! I have registered to continue voting in UK. My local government pension is taxed at source so I will always have an 'interest'. In 7 years time I will no longer be able to vote either in UK or here in France (for other than the local mayoral elections and possibly for an MEP). This cannot be right in terms of democracy. I will have no more democractic rights than in some totalitarian countries like North Korea !
I have lived and worked as a journalist in Hong Kong on and off since 1994. During several of those years I have had a postal vote but am rapidly approaching the time when my 15 years will be up and my vote lost. I retain property in the UK and may well return when I retire as I do not relish my state pension being 'frozen' should I retire in or to a country that does not have an arrangement with the UK for me to receive regular increases despite being fully paid-up in my NI contributions. I should be able to vote in UK elections from wherever I am in the world as I remain a British citizen and thus affected by the changing whims of Parliament.
I have lived in Germany for 28 years now and have the voting rights of someone without any place of abode at all - none! I lost my right to vote in the UK after 20 years and, unless I am prepared to take German citizenship, have no right to vote in the German national elections either. This cannot be right, I own a house, a flat and pay my taxes here, just because I chose to retain my nationality I am being penalised by both sides. This I regard as a gross injustice. I am intending to return to the UK when I retire because most of my close friends are still there and so, of course, are my roots, but maybe I will up and off to southern France after all , I have nothing to lose.
I fully support the petition. I have lived in Hong Kong since 1977. It was British Colony until 1997. Throughout that time, I had the right to vote in the UK elections, and I exercised it. Since the "hand over", I have lost that right.
Democracy and the right to vote is much vaunted by Britain. In Hong Kong, the post-handover Government is now trying to reduce even our rights to vote (such as they are) for the Hong Kong Legislative Council.
How it plays into the hands of the "Chinese view' of democracy that Brits here over 20 years have already lost their rights to vote in the UK - and now both the UK Government and the HK Goverment are trying to cut down voting rights even more.
I am British. I pay my taxes in the UK. I should be able to vote in the UK . Simple.
As a retired police officer my pension is taxed at source in the UK. If I am paying income tax into the UK then surely I have the right to vote in the UK. If the government doesn't like that then allow me to be taxed in Spain where peculiarly enough I can vote already!
The disenfranchised status of ex-pats contravenes basic human rights. I cannot vote in the country in which I have lived and worked for 30+ years, and nor can I vote in the country where I was born and brought up and to which I will one day return.
Freedom to vote should be an absolutely inalienable right, particularly in a community such as the European Union. For me, all the other arguments, for example about property and taxation in the UK , perhaps serve to strengthen the position of some people, but these should not even be a consideration. The right should be self-evident.
I live in Germany and have been resident here since 2002. My rights under current legislation will therefore expire in 2017. One more general election, maybe.
Very much agree with N M Willcox.
We too are obliged to keep, and pay for British passports.
We are also obliged to pay income tax on Ministry of Defence pension and teaching pensions in Britain.
As British citizens we require our government to allow us to vote in parliamentary elections.
If we have to pay UK taxes we should have a vote, if we don't have a vote we should not be require to pay UK tax.
We are passing on the information about this petition to the Informal English Speaking Group of Loja, a mailing list of over 500 people.
I live in the Netherlands. As a British national, I am not allowed to vote in Dutch general elections unless or until I become a Dutch national (naturalised) which I am reluctant to do as I am still British at heart. I don't want to lose my British nationality or passport. If I lose the British vote in a few years' time, I will have no say at a national level anywhere in the world. Is that fair?
Additionally, while the government has been campaining for expats to register to vote, the rules make it extremely difficult. I was disenfranchised for a few years before being able to register. This is because one needs to find a fellow British expat (also living abroad, presumably also resident in the same country) who is not a family member to co-sign the registration form. I didn't know any other British expats here! I had to go looking for one! It didn't quite come to walking into the local Irish/British pub waving the form, fortunately, but that was next on my list of ways to get my vote back!
Resident in Greece
Resident in El Salvador
Having lived and worked in the UK for 57 years, I shall be sad to lose my right to vote after next year. I have retired to Greece. I pay UK income tax and I draw the State pension as well as my works pension. All of my income arises in the UK. I have sold my house in the UK to build one here in Greece so I still only have one home. As of this year, the Greek Government is going to try to tax me because they consider me to be resident if I live here for more than 183 days a year (which I do). I could change my tax status but it would not be very advantageous and not worth the hassle of putting up with Greek bureaucracy. Therefore, I still consider myself very much tied to the UK where my children and grand children live and as such think I should be given a chance to vote in the municipal and national elections.
Having lived and worked in the UK for 57 years, I shall be sad to lose my right to vote after next year. I have retired to Greece. I pay UK income tax and I draw the State pension as well as my works pension. All of my income arises in the UK. I have sold my house in the UK to build one here in Greece so I still only have one home. As of this year, the Greek Government is going to try to tax me because they consider me to be resident if I live here for more than 183 days a year (which I do). I could change my tax status but it would not be very advantageous and not worth the hassle of putting up with Greek bureaucracy. Therefore, I still consider myself very much tied to the UK where my children and grand children live and as such think I should be given a chance to vote in the municipal and national elections.
French resident
I live in France
Resident in Hong Kong
I work for a large exaptriate Association in Portugal and many of our Members are British exaptriates excercising their rights to live within the EU, actually in the country with the longest established treaty in the world which just happens to be with Britain. Many of our Members will also excercise their rights to return to the UK in the future and to be exluded from a basic right of citizenship because they have lived abroad is a disgrace and whilst I am no lawyer I would have thought illegal.
I fully support the campaign and will do what I can to encourage the thousands of British expatriates in Portugal to support it too.
Resident in France
Resident in Switzerland
Denying a vote to expats who continue to pay UK tax is a disgrace
Resident in Spain
I will be getting to the 15 year point some day soon and have asked my UK MP to bring this disgraceful situation to the relevant UK government Minister's attention.
This law is totally unjust . As a long-term resident in France and a UK taxpayer it is crazy that I am unable to vote in UK elections . Good luck to all in this campaign .
No taxation without representation
Resident in France
Taxed in both the UK and France, I have the right to vote in the parliamentary elections of neither country. Not quite the esprit of liberté, égalité & fraternité in either country.
Resident in France
Resident in France.
Javea Costa Blanca
As a UK Military pensioner, a Civil Service pensioner and a UK OA Pensioner I would wish to continue an input into the system which pays me and not loose this after 15 years [very shortly]. I cannot understand why the political parties in UK have not identified the fact that a small town exsists of those living in the EU as migrants plus that of the rest of the world locations, which would bolster the voting count of parties, if they were to harness the voters. I heartily agree with Ian Forresters comments above.
Resident in France
I live in Germany, but still own property in the UK. I am as well informed about curent affairs in the UK as anyone, since I read several newpapers and a weekly periodical, as well as looking regularly at the BBC website. I consider it undemocratic to be disenfranchised because I have not been resident in the UK for a number of years which was obviously chosen arbitrarily. Other EU countries allow their citizens to vote in their consulate or even provide cheap travel so that their citizens can return home to vote. That a State which prides itself on its democratic traditions should treat its citizens so shabbily should be a cause of shame to any UK Government.
As an ex RAF Navigator, I am obliged to pay tax in UK.
As John Le Brun said, "No taxation without representation"
What would be the equivalent of a Boston tea party in France?
Bi-national British/French, I was able to vote in France when living in Switzerland. Why should I not be allowed to vote in British elections now I'm living in France?
As a serviceman before retiring and serving more than ten of my final years overseas I was only allowed a proxy vote and having no suitably proxy was unable to cast my vote; (I believe it was the Thatcher government that removed our right to vote in person on grounds of cost). I have now lived in France for 16 years with no vote. So in effect I have had no national vote for more than a quarter of a century. As an ex-serviceman I pay UK tax on my pension. However, I have a French daughter in law who lived in UK (and paid her taxes there) for about 15 years but had no vote in UK. I recall in my early youth the cry of 'No taxation without representation'. So the UK does not come out of it very well
The European Union is a unique entity. It is not merely intergovernmental. It creates a distinct and privileged set of rights and obligations for goverments and their citizens. We who live abroad are given EU rights which we can invoke before local courts and official agencies. Free movement of persons is one of the Four Freedoms (along with services, capital and goods) guaranteed as a fundamental tenet of the Treaty of Rome as amended. Depriving a citizen of the right to vote in his home country's elections is a hindrance to the citizen's freedom of movement. There are no longer any credible or convincing practical reasons for not granting such right on a permanent basis. We are as well informed as our domestic counterparts on national issues and we have relevant insights through living in another part of the European Union which are pertinent to domestic politics and policies. We are able to consider reform of the health service for example with the benefit of having observed what works well or badly in another friendly nearby jurisdiction. In the same way as the UK is part of the EU, so Belgium or Italy is part of the EU. We can vote with additional insights in UK elections through having lived in other Member States. Fraud is not a credible problem . It is a deliberate choice to deny to a large number of citizens a right of which they ought not to be deprived save in the presence of overwhelming considerations of the public interest, such as exorbitant cost, risk of fraud or other concerns which are real and are not mere speculations. It should only be upon clear and shocking evidence of abuses that denial of the vote to citizens can be even contemplated.
I had to vote to get this far, but since we don't have a presidential system, we do not elect a government. We elect local representatives and the leader of the party with the largest number of these forms a government. We who no longer pay taxes ('used to for X years' doesn't count) should not be represented, 15 years after cutting our ties.
There will be those who split their time between UK and abroad. They still have votes. People who have left 20 - 30 years ago have built new lives in new countries and can (and should) vote there.
Incidentally, in the EU, all EU citizens can vote in EU and local elections, regardless of citizenship. To vote in national elections, one need but apply for citizenship of the country of residence. And to head of a common response, it is hypocritical to hide behind politics of identity to say we should not give up British nationality when settling permanently (for 15+ years!) abroad. Do we not demand immigrants who come to the UK to integrate, and become irritated when a minority do not? We then should do likewise.
And incidentally, 'vote' suggests a choice between differing options. This is not a vote; it is a petition.
This is not scandalous it's racist.
Would it not be better to fomulate a petition directly using the www.petitions.number10.gov.uk site which, has not only proven very successful on various issues, is easy to use. It is also posible to obtain assistance in writing the petition from sites such as www-gopetition.co.uk .
A petition is not only meant for distribution to those U/K citizens directly effected but also all other U/K citizens who wish to express their support. Thus, it would possibly produce numbers that compel action.
B T Darke
Democracy is precious - and fragile. The UK government should not allow it to be weakened by denying UK citizens the right to participate in the democratic process - a fortiori if the citizens in question pay UK tax.
Even after 43 years as an ex-pat, I am still as enthusiastically British as on the day I left the UK, particularly with today's access to TV and newspapers and believe that we are probably as well informed about the UK as UK residents (perhaps even more so).
Although retired to France I still pay tax on my UK pension.UK politics affect my rights so I think I should have my say .
French resident. Will lose my vote in a few years time if this doesn't change. Scandalous.
We have both retired to live in France but have to continue to pay tax on our UK local Government Pensions, therefore we believe we should have our saywhen it comes to voting.
Fully supported!
It is high time the UK joined most of western Europe and the USA in allowing citizens resident abroad full voting rights
We support votes for all expats
Like many "Ex-Pats" I voluntarily gave many years to my country's service in the R.A.F. Later in life I emigrated to Canada where I lost my vote and when pension time arrived I
was frozen at the starting level. Brits living next door in the USA not only got their pensions but were indexed, though no doubt they too lose their vote at 15 years. Having moved to France some years ago I am now re-indexed, big deal, but can I please have back what previous governments have kept (stolen - see Jane Davies above) ? No way! Who exactly do those in power at Westminster represent? One thing is for sure that despite their claims otherwise they do NOT represent the British people. They only represent only themselves.
Some years back at an aviation safety meeting it was said that the EU would never work because each member state insists on doing its own thing, despite rulings from Brussels. As a "Part Time" member will the UK ever listen to Brussels demands or do the powers in Westminster still think the UK rules the world?
No taxation without representation
I support the campaign.
I am obliged to keep, and pay for a British passport.
I am obliged to pay income tax on my Ministry of Defence pension in Britain.
As a British citizen I require my government to allow me to vote in parliamentary elections.
UK citizens should be able to vote wherever they are in the world not be disenfranchised by the Mother of all Parliaments.
Please remember the world has changed and is now a global society which also makes the frozen pension issue a huge anomally as this is not a gift from the UK Gov to it's older people you actually have to earn the right to receive it.
That the UK can and does continue to ignore the rights of its expat citizens is digusting. They make promises year after year which they know full well they will never keep. It seems they only change a policy that suits them when forced to do so, either by a very large body of opinion, or by a "higher" court ruling.
The UK taxes I pay on my "frozen" pension, plus the part of my pension that they steal from me because I live in Canada, means I contribute to the UK's economy. So exactly why should I and thousands of others like me be denied a vote??
I have lived in Canada for 5 years so I still have the right to vote. David Cameron and Steve Webb (pensions minister) promised to end the frozen pension injustice meted out to some state pensioners, pensions that have been paid for, if they got into office. We all know that promise has been broken. This government is just like all those that have gone before. This is theft, plain and simple, morally wrong and is discrimination when other UK expat citizens get the full uprated pension in some countries but not others.
We are still taxpayers so we still should have the right to vote regardless of the amount of years lived outside the UK.
A vote for all us expats will provide us with an additional voice in our efforts to force the British Government to treat us all fairly and equally with some expats retired in other countries abroad. Past Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings declared "to use all efforts foster human equality and dignity everywhere", but Britain fails in this in respect with regards to the State pensions they freeze for many of us retired overseas, especially us in some of the larger Commonwealth countries. This is they claim because of its cost and yet many of these retirees are still taxed in the UK. That's a disgrace which has to be remedied as soon as possible.
You pose some interesting questions around the 6-months plus residency rule in the UK which I agree would appear to bring you back within the UK income tax system with a local address through which you could again apply to add your name to the electoral roll of your local constituency. This would then again appear to give you 15 years with the right to vote in UK general elections should you take off again as an expatriate (after say 6 months plus 1 day) but you'd probably have to have some interesting discussions with the UK tax authorities I imagine!
I am a British Citizen, born in London in 1942 of British parents. I have worked abroad in Africa for more than 20 years, and am now retired in France. I have owned a house in England for 44 years, and have always been subject to UK Council Tax and UK income tax. I have had a National Insurance Number since age 17, continuously paid NI contributions, and now receive a UK state pension.
I understand that if I reside in the UK for more than 6 months within any one year, I then become re-eligible to vote in any UK Local Council and General elections. Does this mean that as I am then re-entered onto the electoral register, I can vote not only in any UK election during that coming year, but also earn another 15 year block of proxy votes, even though I may not be resident in the UK for the 6 months+ in any of the subsequent years? Also the 6 months+ is a rather ambiguous rule. Does it mean a contiguous 6months+, or any accumulation of more than 6 months within any one year? Does the term one year mean a calendar year, a tax year, or any 12 month block?
My congratulations to Christopher Chantrey and colleagues in doing a fantastic job in setting up this excellent site. Of course Britons should have the hard-won right to vote, not just without any time limit, but it should also be made much easier for expats to vote. The coalition should explicitly remove any perception of a link with tax (a key concern for British expats across Asia) and introduce electronic voting as in other countries. Over 98% of expats did not vote in the last general election - that is a scandal.
Well done again.
Anthony (Chairman, Conservatives Abroad Singapore)
Resident in France.
I support this petition.
Out of 6 million-odd expat Brits, less than 200 have responded. Is this lack of interest? or is the message not reaching people?
How about trying to tap directly into the 100 communities of 1,000 or more Brits as a start?
This section should be at the top of the page with the voting section ,If 2000 people fill out this
section I would have to scroll down thro 2000 email addresses !!
I agree 100% with this very important issue and initiative that the right to vote for Brits now living abroad should not be removed and taken away after 15 years living outside of the UK.
I am writing in support of ex pats who live abroad to be given the right of vote. The British have fought in many countries throughout the world for people’s right to democracy, yet it is denied to their own citizens. That cannot be right. I support the right of ex pats to exercise a basic human right.
I take a a very keen interest in day-to- day politics in the U.K. via BBC radio and television, plus on-line newspapers. In fact I think I am probably better informed than many Brits living there. Like many others my occupational pension is taxed at source, without any possibility of opting out. Why should I not keep my right to vote?
Resident in France.
Yes we certainly should retain our vote, for life. However unless the proxy method is changed from postal to the Net, living in France my past experience proves that the vote can not be activated in the time. For us to vote for a dedicated EXpat. minister, or at least MP in the Commons is a far better procedure.
octogenarianGraham
It is iniquitous that We should be deprived of our right vote. Whose idea was it in the first place? We may live abroad but where do our loyalties lie?
I agree with views expressed. As a retired public sector employee, my pension income is taxed at source in the UK, yet I shall eventually lose my right to express a view, via the ballot box, as to how that tax is used. Equally, here in France, the opportunities I have to express my democratic rights are very limited, despite my commitment to my home here and the community in which I live. It seems that we can be fined Europe-wide for motoring offences soon, but the concept of a Europe in which all inhabitants have standard democratic rights, which can be exercised regardless of where they live and for how long, is a long way off. I heartily support the stand that you are making to win fair play for ex-pats on this, and related issues. I hope that you can persuade all ex-pats to take action and show their support.
Briton is now so deeply involved with Europe that it must recognise that the mainland continental countries are no longer 'foreign'. The British citizens in Europe need a minister to consider their issues.
Further the British citizen everywhere in the world is truly an ambassador for British values. The British Government is alienating these citizens by refusing the vote.
As long as an ex.pat is taxed in the UK (including via the Dual Taxation Treaty system arrangement or not) having paid their dues, then the right to vote should not be denied. It was a hard won right - UK residents are continually entreated to turn out and vote so why not ex.pats? However, timescales for voting by post need to be more realistic (get your vote back to your voting centre within 4-days from date of posting from UK to new country of residence - impossible). Electronic, on-line or telephone voting should be implemented ASAP with the necessary security.
Also, I agree ex.pats need their own MP/Minister as ex.pats have a variety of 'issues' that need to be addressed which would not arise unless they had become an ex.pat whether for a short or long period of time; whether for employment or retirement, etc. Specialist knowledge is needed in parliament to respond, advise and promote ex.pat issues effectively.
Keep up the good work.
Still paying buckets of tax in UK but don't have the right to vote - madness!
Presently France (and before that a long time expat)
I support James Preston.
London is now the 6th largest French town and has its own MP! For us living in France we do not even get the right to vote. Are we considered no better than criminals?
I support this petition.
At last we seem to be getting somewhere on this issue. I moved to France in 1976 and so I have not been able to vote in the UK for many years. I now vote and participate in the Council and European Elections in my country of residence : France. I am also lobbying French and European Politicians so that we as EU citizens living in France should be able to vote up to regional level. I am a member of The Committee for Les Français de l'Etranger PACA Region,
French citizens never loose their right to vote in French Elections however long they have been abroad. They even have Députés and Sénateurs to represent them. As Secretary of The British Association of The Alpes-Maritimes Cannes Branch. I will pass the link to this site on to all our members as well as to all other British connected associations that I am in contact with. I hope everybody will do the same, we need as many yes votes as possible.
We must all lobby our political contacts, so that our voting rights will be reinstated.
We are one of the only country's in Europe who deprives their citizens of voting rights.
We must use European and Global Media to make our fight known. When I talk to French or other European Politicians about this subject they are very suprised that this can happen to
British nationals.
So I am sure that we will find the arguments to win this case.
I would also like to thank The British Community Committee for all the hard work they have done on this subject.
Lesley Joines