As ex-RAF I find it strange that I have to pay tax in UK on my pension but cannot vote! I have lived in France for 10 years and will loose my vote in 5 years time! Compared with our French, American, Polish etc cousins, our democracy has been demeaned by ill-informed and selfish politicians who pass bad laws. No wonder no one votes anymore!
helen elaine kerr nee ashton - 13 years ago
contrary to what one of the previous statements made ex pat brits are not allowed to vote in the present elections from canada . also i agree with a previous statement made , the situation of frozen pensions needs to be addressed for ex pats who lived and worked and paid into their british pensions only to find when they emigrated to the countries that do not have an agreement with the uk their hard earned pensions were frozen .unlike other pensioners in the uk who have an indexed pension. this unfair situation has caused untold hardships to many pensioners who cannot keep their heads above water, Its wrong that if you emigrated to the usa for 1 instance that you are treated differently and receive an indexed pension while there are 158 countries whose ex pats whose pensions were frozen do not what happened to fairness and equality for all .to all the british standing mps do your job and vote to change this once and for all. we earned them we paid for them and now we want justice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Martin Winstanley - 13 years ago
resident in france for 22 years
Administrator - 13 years ago
For Gaile Griffin Peers,
Analysis to date shows that some 5% of respondants are or were recently based in the UK.
Your constructive comments are much appreciated.
Administrator,
www.votes-for-expat-brits.com
Apologies - UK is part of the European Union - so you are not excluding - I meant to say that it should be more obvious who is agreeing from within the UK
Gaile Griffin Peers - 13 years ago
Pleased to add my vote to this campaign - but I think you are making a grave error only accepting support from existing expats.
If at any moment 1 in ten britons lives abroad then it stands to reason that there are many people, still in the UK, yet to move abroad, who will be affected by the law of disenfranchisement if it is allowed to continue as it stands. They should be allowed to add their opinion.
Equally, few of us live abroad, in isolation, most of us have left friends and families in the UK who are disgusted at the idea that we are cut off from proper political representation in our home country - even though we have no rights anywhere else. I suggest - while the site is still young - that there should be a third line for UK residents who agree (who with a vote, have perhaps, greater powers of persuasion) !
Tony Cabban - 13 years ago
There is no doubt that we should have the vote as do Expatriate Americans, Canadians and Spanish to name but a few countries where their expat nationals have the vote.
Momica M Denn - 13 years ago
I believe that all British Nationals, where-ever they live, should have a right to vote.
It is not right that especially individuals, who have served their country at some time, should be excluded from voting.
Robert A Blake - 13 years ago
Although I pay tax abroad my income is at the mercy of policies determined by Westminster yet I have no voice in the election of those sitting in the Commons.
Hannah Cole - 13 years ago
In Brussels - I support the campaign for british nationals to be able to vote while living abroad, with no timebound restrictions.
Maryke Stansfield - 13 years ago
I have lived in france for the last 12 years originally working and now retired and I believe strongly that all ex-pats should have the right to vote. Our forebears were chained to railing to getthe franchise and we should respect this right for all. This situations is unacceptable and must be dealt with.
Ron Marsh - 13 years ago
I believe that all UK expats should have the right to vote in UK elections however long they have lived outside the UK.
fiona lazareff - 13 years ago
Living in France
Marilyn Miles - 13 years ago
Resident in Spain
Moira O'Leary Solom - 13 years ago
Practically every other country allows it's nationals to vote abroad.
This situation is scanelous and unjustifiable.
Carolyn Hewitt - 13 years ago
I have voted for this to be considered..............I think it is rather a Pandora's box as I do not live in the UK and will never do so.............so why should I have the right to influence British Politics. We already have the issue with Scottish MPs being able to vote at Westminster but not vice versa.We have to think very carefully as to who exactly would qualify as British, there are many dual passport holders in all corners of the world , some with very extreme opinions ............has this been considered. I do not use British Hospitals , schools or any other service .........should I have the right to vote for cuts in these or more money to be spent. I think we should be very careful what we wish for.For those people truly interested .......establish a UK Adress.
Tim Lough - 13 years ago
I live in Buenos Aires and want the right to vote
Susan Leather - 13 years ago
Thanks to everyone who's pursuing this issue, including those who set up the website. I'll visit regularly to watch progress!
Aubrey Whinney in Chile - 13 years ago
What about frozen Pensions. That needs to be resolved as well.
The current position is totally undemocratic. "No taxation without representation"
Many expates still pay taxes of various types in the UK and the present system has to change.
I only hope that all those who have lost the vote are able to regain it, unlike the stuation with winter fuel allowances which are only given to those who leave the UK after having received it before imigrating, leaving the rest of use "out in the cold"
Gillian Fisher - 13 years ago
Dubai, UAE
James McAllister - 13 years ago
Currently living in Spain
Zandria Lea - 13 years ago
I support James Preston
Tony Lea - 13 years ago
I support James Preston
John-Ernest Medcalf - 13 years ago
There should be no restriction for all UK citizens above a certain age, providing they are mentally sound and able to read and right.
Ray Stephens - 13 years ago
I object to losing my right to vote in the UK elections just because I choose to live in France. I have paid UK Tax since leaving school in 1959, and will continue to pay it until the day I die. I worked as a Civil Servant, in one form or another, for 40 years (seven of these in difficult foreign countries). The UK calls itself the home of democracy, but takes away our right to vote and have a voice!
As ex-RAF I find it strange that I have to pay tax in UK on my pension but cannot vote! I have lived in France for 10 years and will loose my vote in 5 years time! Compared with our French, American, Polish etc cousins, our democracy has been demeaned by ill-informed and selfish politicians who pass bad laws. No wonder no one votes anymore!
contrary to what one of the previous statements made ex pat brits are not allowed to vote in the present elections from canada . also i agree with a previous statement made , the situation of frozen pensions needs to be addressed for ex pats who lived and worked and paid into their british pensions only to find when they emigrated to the countries that do not have an agreement with the uk their hard earned pensions were frozen .unlike other pensioners in the uk who have an indexed pension. this unfair situation has caused untold hardships to many pensioners who cannot keep their heads above water, Its wrong that if you emigrated to the usa for 1 instance that you are treated differently and receive an indexed pension while there are 158 countries whose ex pats whose pensions were frozen do not what happened to fairness and equality for all .to all the british standing mps do your job and vote to change this once and for all. we earned them we paid for them and now we want justice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
resident in france for 22 years
For Gaile Griffin Peers,
Analysis to date shows that some 5% of respondants are or were recently based in the UK.
Your constructive comments are much appreciated.
Administrator,
www.votes-for-expat-brits.com
l am a resident in France
Apologies - UK is part of the European Union - so you are not excluding - I meant to say that it should be more obvious who is agreeing from within the UK
Pleased to add my vote to this campaign - but I think you are making a grave error only accepting support from existing expats.
If at any moment 1 in ten britons lives abroad then it stands to reason that there are many people, still in the UK, yet to move abroad, who will be affected by the law of disenfranchisement if it is allowed to continue as it stands. They should be allowed to add their opinion.
Equally, few of us live abroad, in isolation, most of us have left friends and families in the UK who are disgusted at the idea that we are cut off from proper political representation in our home country - even though we have no rights anywhere else. I suggest - while the site is still young - that there should be a third line for UK residents who agree (who with a vote, have perhaps, greater powers of persuasion) !
There is no doubt that we should have the vote as do Expatriate Americans, Canadians and Spanish to name but a few countries where their expat nationals have the vote.
I believe that all British Nationals, where-ever they live, should have a right to vote.
It is not right that especially individuals, who have served their country at some time, should be excluded from voting.
Although I pay tax abroad my income is at the mercy of policies determined by Westminster yet I have no voice in the election of those sitting in the Commons.
In Brussels - I support the campaign for british nationals to be able to vote while living abroad, with no timebound restrictions.
I have lived in france for the last 12 years originally working and now retired and I believe strongly that all ex-pats should have the right to vote. Our forebears were chained to railing to getthe franchise and we should respect this right for all. This situations is unacceptable and must be dealt with.
I believe that all UK expats should have the right to vote in UK elections however long they have lived outside the UK.
Living in France
Resident in Spain
Practically every other country allows it's nationals to vote abroad.
This situation is scanelous and unjustifiable.
I have voted for this to be considered..............I think it is rather a Pandora's box as I do not live in the UK and will never do so.............so why should I have the right to influence British Politics. We already have the issue with Scottish MPs being able to vote at Westminster but not vice versa.We have to think very carefully as to who exactly would qualify as British, there are many dual passport holders in all corners of the world , some with very extreme opinions ............has this been considered. I do not use British Hospitals , schools or any other service .........should I have the right to vote for cuts in these or more money to be spent. I think we should be very careful what we wish for.For those people truly interested .......establish a UK Adress.
I live in Buenos Aires and want the right to vote
Thanks to everyone who's pursuing this issue, including those who set up the website. I'll visit regularly to watch progress!
What about frozen Pensions. That needs to be resolved as well.
France resident
The current position is totally undemocratic. "No taxation without representation"
Many expates still pay taxes of various types in the UK and the present system has to change.
I only hope that all those who have lost the vote are able to regain it, unlike the stuation with winter fuel allowances which are only given to those who leave the UK after having received it before imigrating, leaving the rest of use "out in the cold"
Dubai, UAE
Currently living in Spain
I support James Preston
I support James Preston
There should be no restriction for all UK citizens above a certain age, providing they are mentally sound and able to read and right.
I object to losing my right to vote in the UK elections just because I choose to live in France. I have paid UK Tax since leaving school in 1959, and will continue to pay it until the day I die. I worked as a Civil Servant, in one form or another, for 40 years (seven of these in difficult foreign countries). The UK calls itself the home of democracy, but takes away our right to vote and have a voice!