ex-pat voting rights

[tonylea]

It is estimated that some 5 million British citizens may be adversely affected by the ‘Representation of People Act’, part of which removes the right to vote, from UK citizens who have chosen to live outside of the UK, and do so for 15 years or more. My wife and I were notified our ‘lost eligibility’ (disenfranchisement) in 2009.

I do not believe I am any less ‘British’ or less ‘loyal’ because I have chosen to live abroad, I do not believe I should be treated ‘less’ or ‘differently’ to any other law abiding British citizen.

Some time ago I came across one James Preston. James lives and conducts a business in Madrid, Spain: and to my mind is very courageous, he is taking the UK Government to court at what could possibly have been great personal expense. Fortunately somewhere along the line a prominent Law firm offered ‘pro-bono’ assistance and took him under their wing. Recent news is that a Judge has granted ’leave to appeal’ with a maximum possible cost limit against James of £20k. So it would appear there may be some hope for the future. If you would like to show support for James please help by emailing me as follows:

Send to: tonylea@wanadoo.fr
Subject: Voting Rights.
Text: I/We support James Preston (name(s))

I will compile a list to be sent to the legal team.
This request is not now, or will ever be a plea for funds.

Tony Lea

[Sandra]

i don't see the problem at all, if after 15 years of not living in the country why would you want to have a say in how it is run ?
i do however beleive that we should be able to vote in the country that we have chosen to live in.

[serge]

It might be a silly question but if a person leaves UK PLC for sunnier climes (or whatever) and now resides permanently in another country, why should they have any voting rights in the UK?

[catalanglais]

A lot of expats have a vested interest in how the country is run, even though we may have left UK PLC for sunnier climes.

Many have pensions, investments and businesses back in the UK, for which we may (or may not) contribute in varying forms of taxation.

It does not seem exactly right that you may have a business in the UK, pay corporation taxes, VAT, national insurance, employ staff, contribute to the local economy etc but then have no say in who actually runs the country.

[serge]

You are not Scottish are you? - only they seem to think that it's OK to have a say in how two countries are run!

You could say that I have a vested interest in how France is run but I am not allowed a vote there.


When you have gone, you have gone ................ and good riddance to some of em!

[Genghis Cohen]

As one who is rapidly approaching the 15 year deadline I must declare a vested interest in this topic.

As a citizen of another EU country, now permanently resident in France, I am entitled to vote here in both communal and European elections. Under the 15 year rule I will become disenfranchised in the UK but not in France. Which is odd.

The EU is, to a greater or lesser extent, an economically and politically interdependent unit. But, at the same time, it is a union of sovereign states. A totally unique institution. Against this background the concept of the citizen's rights within a demographic society takes on a new dimension. Unless the right to vote is reserved to citizens of a particular country, the value of citizenship falls into doubt. What else differentiates a citizen from a resident from another EU country who enjoys exactly the same benefits as a citizen. Other than the right to vote. Against this can be set the concept of “No taxation without representation”. To some extent our right to vote in the communals addresses this issue but, in reality, it is the National Assembly, Senate and President who decide where our tax Euros go.

So if there are good reasons why we can't vote in national elections here then surely it is only reasonable that we should be able to vote in our country of origin? If only because, ultimately, it is the arbiter on our status as EU citizens. If the UK wanted to pull out of the EU I would want to have my say in the decision. In reality a whole host of other matters of internal UK policy directly affect me.

On the other hand I see no reason why Brits living permanently outside the EU should have indefinite voting rights. Those members of my family that have emigrated have all taken the nationality of their new country. If the UK were to withdraw from the EU I would follow suite.

I am prepared to support this campaign on the basis outlined.

Genghis Cohen

[Brian and Helen]

[quote="catalanglais"]Many have pensions, investments and businesses back in the UK, for which we may (or may not) contribute in varying forms of taxation./quote]

No problem whatsoever with the theory, the "home" government can seriously mess these things for anyone (not just the expat) - but whilst I vote religiously, as my civic duty, I cannot believe that it is ever going to change things one iota.

So whilst the principle is annoying, the actuality is a resounding "nul points" (a phrase which we'll undoubtedly hear again on Saturday!)

Brian

("If voting ever changed anything, they'd make it illegal")

[peter]

I see this differently. I've been disenfranchised.

Been out of UK 21 years; can't vote there and can't vote here.

I've got no property etc in UK, but I do have a handful of private pensions ( worked for various companies, contracting out, etc) an old endowment policy maturing shortly and 20 years of state pension ..... payable one day.

I also have other pensions in Belgium and Sweden. I feel like a football in a European competition !

Peter

[Brian and Helen]

Yes Peter, but what difference does it really make except to some atavistic notion of "representation"?

I really can't see what your problem is with such a non-event.

Brian

[peter]

If I'd had the vote, I wouldn't have allowed Gordon Brown to decimate my future pension ?

And if I did vote for him, I wouldn't have the right to be angry about it.

Peter

[Brian and Helen]

I had a vote. I voted against Labour. He still did it.

Bugger all I could do about it.

You might as well go to Boston, chuck a tea-bag in the harbour, and aver that there should be "no taxation without representation". It might make you feel better, but it won't change a bean.

Shit happens.

Brian

[peter]

I had a vote. I voted against Labour. He still did it.

But that is democracy. I had none.

I'm just too idealistic, again !

Peter

[catalanglais]

Oy Brian!! You CLEARLY don't know what you're talking about!!!!!!!!!


Blue cannot POSSIBLY get nul points on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Back to the slightly less important subject of the thread - I'm with you on this one, Peter! Though love (and agree with) Brian's sentence!! haha!

If voting ever changed anything, they'd make it illegal

[gurubarry]

I will join up as I am still in contact with my MP who has worked hard for me over the past 15 plus years , without his help I wouldn't have had any lifestyle at all . So voting , for me , is very important .
I am trying to get a change in UK Law to give divorced couples the right to the pensions removed from them by the Courts following the death of one of the couple.
Without Government help this would be near impossible I feel .

[Brian and Helen]

Oy Brian!! You CLEARLY don't know what you're talking about!!!!!!!!!

Blue cannot POSSIBLY get nul points on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did the word "Blue" ever pass my lips? I do faintly recall some failed boy-band of that name a decade or so ago.
No, the comment was generic (tho if we're really, really lucky, it could be Jedward)

Brian

[Brian and Helen]

I had a vote. I voted against Labour. He still did it.

But that is democracy. I had none.

I'm just too idealistic, again !

Peter

Ah, so democracy consists of furtively raping citizens' future assets, presumably on the grounds that "what they don't know won't hurt them, and if they did know they probably voted for the other lot anyway". I have a word for that too, it's called "class-war".

Strange that it wasn't in their manifesto.

Brian

[peter]

Ah, so democracy consists of furtively raping citizens' future assets, presumably on the grounds that "what they don't know won't hurt them, and if they did know they probably voted for the other lot anyway". I have a word for that too, it's called "class-war".

Strange that it wasn't in their manifesto.

Brian

Is he still offering to provide the IMF with a safe pair of hands ?

Peter

[Brian and Helen]

Nope, Cameron shafted him on that one, to much gloating from the media (including the Guardian).

However, as a consolation prize, he is now chairman of the World Economic Forum (think "Davos") - see:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011 ... onsolation

Brian

[tonylea]

Thank you for some very positive comments. As usual there are many who do not see any importance or relevance, to me it has both.

The right to vote is just that ‘a right’ not a concession or privilege. What you do, or do not do, with your vote is entirely individual choice – but you should have the right to exercise it.

I have heard many arguments for and against, and also arguments about the basis of eligibility e.g. where you pay taxes/residence the option least fraught and (to my mind) most relevant, is citizenship. (If you want to vote for Sarko change nationality!)

It is interesting to note that the UK is one of the few democracies in the world that imposes a restriction. Some countries even have dedicated ‘ministers/deputies for ex-pat affairs’.

The Governments reasoning behind this restriction is that interests and knowledge diminish with time, in common with many I have family and financial interests in the UK all of which are affected now and in the future by decision of the UK Government. Also in this modern electronic world the other part of the argument does not hold up. I believe I am as well informed as anyone living in the UK.

On the ‘time limit’ subject, the Act original gave a concession of 5 years; this was later amended to 20 years and then in 2002 further amended and reduced to 15 years.

To me this is an unjust and discriminatory law that should be removed – at least if only to put us on par with prisoners.

Regarding which I quote from a recent letter sent to me from the ‘Justice Dept., Elections and Democracy Division’.
In view of the strength of feeling on this issue in the UK, as demonstrated by debates in Parliament on 11 January and 10 February 2011, the UK requested that the Court’s judgement in the Greens and MT case be referred to the Grand Chamber – the European Court of Human Rights. On 11 April, the Grand Chamber refused the UK Governments request. The Government is considering the next steps.

What are they going to do next? Defy the court! Ignore the ruling! Hardly likely – despite the previous furore ‘something’ will go on the statute book and the list of three groups of UK citizens forbidden ‘by law’ to vote will reduce to two.
a) Ex-pats +15 year’s residence abroad.
b) Those unfortunates who are classified insane.

It is not well known but some foreign citizens who live and work in the UK are allowed to vote, these are mainly from Commonwealth countries.
Makes you wonder!
Sometimes makes me wonder why I am very proud to be British.

Tony

[Brian and Helen]

Sorry if some of us appear relatively unconcerned, Tony, obviously some people get worked up about things which to others are completely unimportant.
Maybe it's down to how cynical or idealistic one is. Peter, I would suggest is in the latter camp with you, but for myself, I really can't see why anyone would care.
I don't think it's just my advancing years (and memories of governments stretching back to Macmillan), I just cannot see the point of spending time worrying about the issue - that won't achieve anything, and even if an expat does retain a vote, it's still worth bugger-all in the real world, when it comes to changing anything.

Voting is a symbol, that's all, and I tend to the pragmatic.

Brian

[iargoaparth]

Sorry Tony but I agree wholeheartedly with Brian.
Iargo

[peter]

Ex pats have specific issues that impact them more than domestic residents.

The GBP was worth €1.42494 on 2/5/1997 and only €1.1277 on 11/5/2010 , a reduction of 21%.

This was a deliberate policy to improve UK competiveness. Should this man be smiling ?



There is also a political element in this. Overseas postal votes were said to favour the conservative party. In 1992 I, and many other expats, received a personal letter from John Major urging me to register as a postal voter. As I was not registered with the UK consul, the surmise is that the addresses were gathered from a UK agency (DHSS or HMIT).

If there is a political biais in voting patterns, it is morally wrong that governments can change the time limits, just as it is wrong to change constituency boundaries to gain more seats.

Not having a vote for national government in UK or France prejucices the rights of expats and is a backward step for democracy.

Peter

[tonylea]

Macmillan - I remember him well (you have never had it so good’ and ‘do your bit for the old age pensioners').

I have a theory about cars which can be applied to politicians also.
Basically I say that cars started to be less interesting when the starting handle was removed as ‘standard issue’. Rovers – Austin – Riley’s – Vauxhall with the distinctive ‘Norman shield’ incorporated somewhere in the design. You could tell them apart from a distance – they smelt like cars and you had to drive them. Over the years they have got sleeker and shinier with ABS and all mod cons. They virtually drive themselves in fact I see Ford are introducing one which will park without the interference of a driver (must get my wife one of those) and you have to look at the logo to tell who made it!

Attlee – Bevan – Brown (George not Gordon) – Churchill – characters one and all – drank – smoked and (without the aid of a script writing team and a host of lawyers) orate until the cows came home. Today – well – just look at the logo. It’s the only way to tell who is who! No fire – no individuality and they dare not say anything unless it upsets the apple cart.

Regardless of that – I still want the RIGHT to vote.

Tony Lea

[peter]

PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE MEETING THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER – ON POLITICAL/CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM & TV DEBATE!!!
VOTES FOR EXPATS

Dear Friends, Readers, contacts, Expat Websites, Clubs & Associations, please help – this is an urgent call For your help and co-operation.
Clubs & Associations Please circulate to your members

As you know for quite a while a number of people, myself amongst them , have been campaigning to get the 15 year rule abolished by which expatriates living elsewhere than in the UK, lose their right to vote after 15 years, despite as we have pointed OUT on numerous occasions, many such expatriates, pay taxes in the UK

A new website came into being recently votes-for-expats.com and people have signed up in hundreds, adding their comments, a majority of them resenting Taxation without Representation, as well as making many other points, particularly ex-servicemen who have fought and served their country.

Now a Parliamentary Select Committee is meeting to debate this subject – however only as part of other matters – Thursday 13 October. The General Public has been invited to make submissions. YOU CAN HELP BY WRITING TO THEM! . And we have only been informed about this Select Committee hearing in the past day or so, we need your help.

I and others, Brian Cave of Pensioners Debout blog and website, Graham Richards, who has campaigned for compensation for investors in the Equity pension scandal, Sylvia Moore of International Labour, Christopher Chantry of the votes-for-expats website. etc. have all made submissions. My submission which is unfortunately rather lengthy, you can find below.

I would urge you please if you value your votes, and want to vote, and look after your pension, and what happens to the future of the UK. Your children, grandchildren and their futures, please support this initiative and write in to the committee.

As one contact pointed out to me, a couple retired from the Met Police, the index linking relating to their pension may well be changed, as far as they can see for the worse, shortly they will lose their right to vote. This might also be the case concerning your pension. WITHOUT A VOTE YOU HAVE NO SAY.

And it is not just pensions that may be affected by present and future legislation - how do you feel about being regarded, as Non Resident, and therefore requiring a special Non-Resident’s pass to enter the UK. Think about it. Without a vote you can do nothing.

The list of the Select Committee is attached herewith, but are also listed below so that you can cut-and-paste them into your email.
Nick Clegg’s address has been added as he seems to have opinions on the subject, possibly not favourable, so perhaps it would be wise to supply him with your comments.

DO PLEASE ACT NOW – THIS MIGHT BE THE ONLY CHANCE FOR US TO GET A HEARING, AND MAKE OUR FEELINGS KNOWN.

By all means cut-and paste anything you wish from my submission or from the votes for expats website, or any other information, I will try and include in this mail. I know not everyone is a writer. But do not hesitate to make your feelings known. As ex-serviceman Bosworth on the votes for expats website points out, barely 50% of the electorate voted last time. Isn’t it time they valued the votes of the electorate, and gave us our votes back. You pay taxes and have paid into and worked for the system and country all your life, as most of us have, you are entitled!
I apologise for the length of this missive, but it is important. Please act now.

Best regards Anita

The Debate is going to be televised, however via the Internet (NOT NOTE BBC Parliament!). So you can watch the proceedings.
THE TELEVISING of the Select Committee Thursday 13th at 10.00 a.m UK TIME - 11.00 a.m. Continental time) on UK Parliament TV. The link is:-
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Live.aspx
You can at about 10.58 a.m.(Euro time) on Thursday raise the above link via your PC and go to the TODAY item and then to the bottom right section of the four compartments which appear (COMMITTEES) click on the appropriate " Political and Constitutional Reform slot at 10.00 a.m. UK time" A live video will appear of the procedures.


You should also mail to:
The Cabinet office, which is at:

electoralregistration@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk

and

'harperm@parliament.uk'

The Minister (Mark Harper) for Constitutional Reform, who will be presenting his case to the Select Committee

Select Committee members

allengw@parliament.uk
andrew.griffiths.mp@parliament.uk
chopec@parliament.uk
sheila.gilmore.mp@parliament.uk
hamiltonf@parliament.uk
simon.hart.mp@parliament.uk
tristram.hunt.mp@parliament.uk
lainge@parliament.uk
andrew.turner.mp@parliament.uk
stephenwilliamsmp@parliament.uk
yasmin.qureshi.mp@parliament.uk

nick.clegg.mp@parliament.uk



For your background information.

The Chairman of the Select Committee, wrote this:

Letter from Graham Allen MP,
Chair, Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
Mr Cave,
Thank you for your letter regarding the time limit on expatriates’ eligibility to vote in UK General Elections. I understand from the number of people who have written to me on this issue that it is an issue of some concern to British citizens living abroad.
The Committee is currently examining the Government’s draft legislation on individual electoral registration, and we are now nearing the end of our inquiry.
The Government has not proposed changing the 15-year time limit on expatriates voting in UK elections. This is something individual Members of the Committee may well want to raise with the Minister when he comes before the Committee on Thursday. It will be a matter for the Committee as a whole whether to make any recommendation relating to the time limit when we consider our final report later in the year.
I will circulate your submission to the other members of the Committee for consideration on Thursday. Thank you once again for writing to me.
My Submission: VOTES FOR EXPATS

EXPATS EQUAL EXPORTS -
WHO AM I WHO DO I / WE REPRESENT
DEMOCRACY & THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR LIBYANS! BUT NOT FOR BRITISH BORN CITIZENS? IS THIS FAIR? IS IT LOGICAL? IS IT DEMOCRATIC?
SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN
NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
PARLIAMENTARY REFORM

EXPATS EQUAL EXPORTS
At a time when the UK finds itself mired in the direst economic straits for several generations -Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, is quoted as saying the worst since the 30’s! -are you really prepared to kick in the teeth the very people who can help the UK climb out of recession?

British Expats, have travelled the world over and brought home the goods, the trade, the connections – they built Empire. From the Nabobs, who travelled to India in the 17c to the computer whizzes/ geeks/ engineers/ agronomists/ bankers/ accountants/ you name it, who since then and still now travel to Dubai, Hong Kong, Brazil and everywhere else, they have worked for their country, and brought home the goods. They not only benefited themselves they benefited their country,

The majority of them spent their lives abroad, they sent their children ‘home’ to to be educated, ‘home’ of course being the home country, the UK. They still do, and have done for the past few centuries, and yet now how many thousands are being penalised by losing their right to vote, and vote for their children’s and grand children’s future? Some of them have children serving in the UK armed forces, should they not have a right to vote?

And yet when convenient, who gets called upon to form the Bulwark of support for British Trade Missions, trade initiatives abroad, when the UK is trying to sell its industry, its technology, its know-how – guess who – the resident Expats, who know the territory, know opportunities, who know the potential for exports, and exchanges. They have the local knowledge, the contacts, a great deal of the expertise needed, and yet they are penalised for living abroad by having their right to vote taken away.

In the 60’s I worked for a large petro-chemical engineering company, CJB, as a PRO. I got sent out to Algeria, subsequently Romania, Poland and Russia, on sales initiatives.

In Algeria, the company had secured a very large pipeline contract against severe competition, particularly French and American. As the result of that one contract the American monopoly of overland pipeline construction was broken (they still have the monopoly of underwater pipeline construction, namely the company Brown & Root) and CJB subsequently secured the major share of building North Sea Gas pipelines. CJB then became a viable company for the building of such pipe lines, hence the interest from Poland & Russia. The COI translated the film we made of the Algerian pipeline contract into 26 languages and sent them out worldwide.

On my visits abroad I met with local expats, who tended at that time to scoff at FCO briefings, and the scanty knowledge of local business conditions displayed by FCO officials.

This changed substantially. I later in the 70’s worked for over 5 years in the Press section of the British Embassy in Paris. At the beginning there was this very wide gulf between what was considered genuine and necessary development of benevolent trade links, co-operation, as compared to strictly Commercial links. Commerce even then seemed to be a dirty word. Gradually that changed, and the Commercial Depts of the Embassies widened their links with commerce and industry in every direction.

A forerunner in this was the then Paris Ambassadress, Greek born Lady Henderson who organised a very successful Fashion show at the British Embassy, highlighting the genius of British designers, such as Sandra Rhodes and others – positively coals to Newcastle.. Financial whizzes in the city finally woke up to the fact that Fashion , ie ’ladies frocks’ represented a billion pound/dollar industry.

So when it comes to organising Trade Missions, and selling UK businesses abroad, it is not just Prince Andrew as the figure head, who helps sells the UK, it is more than likely UK expats on the ground, who are doing the business, getting the contracts, selling UK knowhow , and bringing home the bacon to the UK, and UK manufacturing industries. These are the expats working in Dubai, Brazil, Singapore, Hong Kong, you name it, representing, and working for British banks, Institutions, companies worldwide. One such is Mr. Preston, long time resident in Spain, who is presently petitioning the High Court to get his right to vote restored.

So why on earth are these expats being penalised?

I know many who have retired here in this region of France, they subscribe to the monthly magazine I publish. Having spent all their working lives - more often than not in tropical climates - Hong Kong, Singapore, Kenya, etc, they cannot now face the rigours of the UK climate. But they have savings in the UK, investments, and have supported the UK all their lives.

You can read their increasingly disgruntled and furious comments on the website, Votes-for -Expats.

WHO AM I WHO DO I / WE REPRESENT
I am a UK retiree who settled in the French countryside just over 20 years ago, for economic (I could not afford to live in the UK on a pension!) and climatic reasons, I subsequently started a newsletter called VAR VILLAGE VOICE, which now circulates to hundreds of British expats residing in the Var, the Department next to the Alpes Maritime.

I have written several articles on the subject of Votes for Expats, the latest of which was published by the DAILY TELEGRAPH recently, as a result was circulated worldwide, and helped create a bounce in the sign ups to the Votes-for Expats website.

I know many of my readers, I know where they come from, what they used to do. Thanks now to modern technology, the Internet, we are now in touch with each other constantly. As I am in touch with numerous other Expat websites, and organisations, lobbying groups, such as Brian Cave’s Pensioners Debout Blog (10,000 and more!) and websites, here in France, in Spain, Denmark and elsewhere. Between us we can muster some several thousands of email contacts, virtually world wide.

These readers, their friends, contacts, have all worked and paid in to the UK all their working lives, paid in tax, for health, and everything else. Why should they lose their right to vote, because in their declining years they decide to live elsewhere?

For example, In the next village to where I live one couple are very concerned about their pensions, they are both retired from the Met, both were Royal Protection Officers, they have served their time and retired elsewhere, very likely, like me, for economic reasons. They are now after over ten years here, increasingly concerned as to the rate of tax they are being asked to pay on their pensions. And very shortly they lose their right to vote.

British residents here were civil servants, teachers, they paid their taxes, they educated their children, they paid their dues Is this fair. They paid in? And yet they lose their right to vote on what happens, tax wise and in every other area. How can you possibly justify this?

Actually by leaving the UK, as I did, they and other residents here, liberated much needed housing stock, for an extremely over-populated UK.

DEMOCRACY & THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR LIBYANS! BUT NOT FOR BRITISH BORN CITIZENS? IS THIS FAIR? IS IT LOGICAL? IS IT DEMOCRATIC?

Don’t you find it utterly hypocritical, and possibly totally cynical, for Prime Minister David Cameron - to nail his colours to the mast at the UN, appealing for UN support for beleaguered peoples in the Arab belt of North Africa and elsewhere, striving to achieve democracy and the right to vote, when at the same time his Government is denying this same right to vote to British citizens, who have done their utmost for their country, and paid in to all the UK systems. Don’t you find this utterly contemptible and repellant?

What next? Will the next section of the population to lose their vote be those who have not exercised their right to vote for example for the past three years, or any other section of the population, for whatever pretext, or manufactured reason, just like in a Banana Republic or any other system of dictatorship.

Right now some twenty-nine of thirty-three council of Europe member states allow non-resident citizens to vote. Globally, more than 110 states grant it, including Botswana, Colombia, Indonesia, Iraq, Mali, Mexico and the United States. But not the UK?

The risible weasel reason supplied by some Sub Committee for limiting the right to vote was “ on each time it considered the issue Parliament has accepted the view that generally, over time, a person's connection with the UK is likely to diminish if they are living permanently abroad.”
A statement directly contradicted, by the FCO, a Government Department far more familiar with UK citizens resident world wide- who stated: ”We recognise the affinity British nationals overseas have with the UK as demonstrated by their strong desire to retain a British passport, either as a mono or dual national.”

Precisely as the UK is holding itself up as a model Democracy, it is at the same time revoking the right to vote to a minority of British born hard working citizens .

Not so long ago, the previous Labour administration made it possible for several thousand Polish citizens, resident and working in the UK, to vote in their home General Election, by setting up 62 polling stations all round the UK.

And yet it cannot make that possible for all its own citizens?

Virtually no other European country strips its citizens of their right to vote, the over 300,000 or so French citizens now living and working in the UK have their own parliamentary representatives. Italy quite often I am told, pays for its citizens to come home to vote. But somehow our government can’t make it possible for all its citizens to vote in UK General Elections, is it parsimony? or just arrogance, and ignorance?

Now Portugal makes it possible for its citizens to vote at their Consulates. Why can’t we vote at our Consulates? Or have postal votes. Too much hard work for over paid Civil Servants, with gold plated pensions paid for in part, by thousands of expat taxpayers?

Yet in this topsy turvy world, economic migrants with little to offer the UK, are fast tracked to citizenship and the right to vote.

As the recently published report on immigration – commissioned but suppressed by the previous Labour administration revealed, the majority of these economic migrants have low skills and came to the UK to benefit from the Welfare culture, and the UK’s welfare system.
To quote the DAILY TELEGRAPH article on this report – vid The Socio-Economic Integration of Migrants, claimed “Immigrants in the UK exhibit lower employment rates than natives....Immigrants are on average less likely than natives to engage in any form of civic participation.”
And: “”The documents also contain revelations that immigrants from all countries into Britain are more likely to be out of work than the native population”” And yet, contributing nothing to the UK and draining its resources, they are given the right to vote?

SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN
And to add final insult to injury,a WWII veteran, Harry Shindler, has to petition the European Court to get his right to vote in the UK restored, just because he retired to Italy to be with his grandchildren. How cockeyed is that?

How can you possibly justify it?
Just like J. A. Bosworth, and many others, who served in the UK Armed Forces, but now live elsewhere. Why should he or they lose their right to vote. They served their country. Read the relevant comments on the Votes for Expats website. There are loads there.

NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
And as you read the comments on the Votes for expats website, that keep on rolling in, the majority of them are furious that despite paying their taxes, income tax, you name it, in the UK, they are being deprived of their right to vote.

One can literally note the ever increasing swell of discontent from expats on this website, a furious underbelly of resentment.

Supposing, just supposing, that expats world wide, who could move their pensions, their investments in the UK, decided to do just that. How would the UK Treasury Department react, and regard that flight of funds?

Think about it.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM
I have spoken to many readers, residents in this area, and unfortunately many of them now express great apathy regarding voting in the UK. They express for what they now regard as an inherently flawed system, a system in which they previously believed, but which they now find corrupt.

How long did it take for MP’s to grasp the nettle and reform the expenses system? Only when forced to by the DAILY TELEGRAPH exposure of the fraudulent practices. Since then it has taken at least two years to bring ex-MP Margaret Moran (Luton South) before the courts. One justice for MP’s ,or ex-MPs, and another for everybody else?

The UK Parliamentary system urgently needs to rebuild trust and belief amongst its voters, and disenfranchising one section of its legitimate voters, British citizens who worked for the system and believed in it , can only be regarded as cynicism of the highest order.

You need these voters to try and restore the UK parliament to a truly, transparently democratic system. You need these voters to help you build a stable government not reliant on a makeshift, and not wholly workable coalition.

Anita Rieu-Sicart
Editor
VAR VILLAGE VOICE
Monthly Subscription Print & Internet magazine about the Var
E: anita@varvillagevoice.com
E: whatsoninthevar@varvillagevoice.com
Web: www.varvillagevoice.com
1142 Route des Miquelets,
83510 Lorgues.

[peter]

Message to all expatriates from ROGER GALE MP (Cons. Thanet North) :


Votes for Ex-pats
I have received a number of recent communications relating to progress – or lack of it – towards either extending the duration of time within which ex-pat UK citizens may vote in UK general elections or granting the vote for life.

The thesis appears to be as follows: it is recognised that while the ex-pat (European) community is generally able to vote in local and EU elections, those who have been resident outside the UK for more than 15 years are denied the right to vote in a national election unless, of course, they have adopted another nationality. It is also clearly understood that most European Union and some other States grant ex-pat voting rights in perpetuity.

The government feels obliged to contest the “Harry Shindler Case” under UK law as it stands. As HMG is considering amending the law (an amendment that will have to be agreed between the coalition partners in order to gain the necessary majority in the House) this might seem perverse but the convention is clear: we implement UK law as it is and not as we would wish it to be or as it might become.

Looking forward, the Registration Bill, due to be introduced in January, provides a realistic vehicle for a change if the Government is minded to extend voting rights.

While I appreciate – and share – the sense of frustration felt by those who want to “get a move on” I now propose to use my best efforts to calmly and courteously seek to press the case for change. It would be helpful if those ex-pats with an interest in the subject (and it has been pointed out by others that the level of pro-active support is lamentable in some areas) were to write to /e-mail their own MPs seeking support for legislation through representations to the Cabinet Office.

I remain convinced that Mark Harper, as the junior Cabinet Office Minister, genuinely wants to help but this, clearly, will be a Coalition Cabinet decision and it is therefore important that Liberal Democrat as well as Tory MPs understand the sense of injustice that is felt throughout an ex-pat community that has worked for, supported, paid taxes in and sometimes fought for the United Kingdom.

Roger.

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