Should expats have the right to vote?

Better come back while they will still let you in, Pippa!
Before article 50 is presented, if it ever is.

We voted as we have all our family back in Wales and we feel that this decision will effect their lives for years to come. Once we sell here we will also be returning to Wales, our stay in Cyprus was due to health reasons but we have never stopped thinking of UK as home and that is where we will return to.

In the Scottish referendum non-Scots living in Scotland could vote (which I think was correct) but not Scots living in other parts of the UK. All those affected should have been enfranchised in any future referendum

I know an ex pat who has an interest and voted because although she is unlikely to return to UK permanently it is always possible that an offspring who is entitled to a British passport might one day wish to live or work in the UK.

I thought quite hard about whether to vote in the recent referendum. Eventually, I decided that as I shall not return to the UK and absentdaughter and her family don't live in the UK, I wouldn't. However, I do pay income tax and VAT in the UK and depend on the UK for my income – which, thanks to unstable exchange rates, will be rather less in the foreseeable future.

I think they should have got to vote in the referendum as the outcome is obviously going to affect them re their pensions and healthcare. Lots of expats have moved to warmer climes for health reasons. We were hoping to do the same as I have health problems that are made better by the warmer weather, but we cannot afford to move from Scotland to the south of England for better weather. My husbands RAF pension will always be taxed in the UK regardless of where we live, not sure about state pensions as we are not old enough for that yet! I would not want to vote on the general or by elections as that would not really affect me if I left the country. The other thing to think of is, how would our country cope if there was an influx of old age expats moving back because European countries decided if Britain does not want their people, why should they keep Britains OAP's. That would be a real squeeze on the country as most of our immigrants are of working age, paying taxes in Britain and not needing the NHS as much as the older generation might.

Jen let's hope that those making a Brexit deal will think of the people who are living in an EU country not their own - everyone will face problems. Not quite so severe for those who are working and paying NI etc into the systems - far more complicated for retired people.

GJ I know a few people who rent - if retired they are mainly ex military but I also know a few younger people this applies to - mortgages here can be hard for young people as the way they calculate your income here is basically that they will give a loan based on half your actual income! I discovered this recently from a young couple we know (30 ish). Some used almost all of their money to buy their dream house instead of buying a house they could really afford and of course those who had houses needing renovation discovered the renovations cost far more than was anticipated.

What about the reverse, though? What about all the EU citizens who have lived here for over ten years, but did not have the right to vote?
Because of Brexit, they may even have their right to vote in local elections taken away from them, even though they pay income tax and council tax.

In the EU referendum I think akl UK citizens living in the EU should have been entitled to vote as it will affect them.

In the same way all Scots living in other parts of the UK should have been allowed to vote in the 2014 Scottish referendum, but we were disenfranchised although it would have affected us very much, I do realise it might have been difficult to agree who was eligible, but not impossible.

Agree with that. I feel that more thought should have been given to people whose lives have been affected by this. A friend of mine voted leave even though he has a holiday home in France and his partner owns a house and lives there. I doubt if he considered the implications of voting out.

As everywhere there are people who do not plan financially or practically for their future. However think the circumstances of the Brexit could not have been anticipated by anyone.

Seems a bit harsh to be so critical of people who just wanted a different life and maybe a bit of an adventure.

WelshWife, actually you surprise me. I don't know any expats in France, Spain or Italy who rent.

Agreed Welshwife- some people were perhaps a bit reckless and were led by tv programmes like 'House in the Sun' and the like and calculated they just could make it.

When we bought the house here 9 years ago, the £ pound was 2.50- and today it is 1.29- and recently 1.18. That is a humongous drop few could survive- add to this a large monthly bill for health care insurance if EU health agreements are dropped, and then- as this year for me. have to pay 10% of a knee replacement - then many would find themselves up the creek without a paddle- and this without being reckless.

Many people in fact have no property and are renting. As you are older it becomes increasingly difficult to manage two homes both financially and practically. We kept a second home for many years and only sold it about four years ago. The main reason was that wherever we were there was always a lot of jobs to do and to rent one of the properties had tax implications.

Of course we were not so cavalier as to move without working out the facts and costs and we would have no problem without this Brexit - depending on the agreement reached will be the fate of many an expats.

I can see how worrying things might now be for retiree expats living off their savings, and I do agree the UK should support them where necessary if they return home to reside. I think you were very sensible gj to keep a property in the UK but I do think some people just wanted a cheaper property and lifestyle abroad without thinking about the potential pitfalls.

Lillie- I understand what you are saying. And of course people have to plan for some fluctuations- but it's hard to imagine one could lose 50% of income to such.

And also you plan with the knowledge of the system you live in, surely. No-one could imagine 9 years ago- that the UK would choose to leave the EU- couly you, really? Be fair.

Friends from Scotland had nearly bought a house in France to retire to recently- and are planning on cancelling the purchase and their plans, as it would all be too tight for them now. And another young friend who has gone through the most horrendous family tragedy recently, has just lost the sale of her French house due to Brexit too.

I can see why people in the UK would think 'ah, they chose to move out- so they can lump it now' - green eyed monster and all that- but some circumstances were just impossible to imagine and planned for. We were lucky to be able to keep a small property in the UK, just in case. Lucky too that if we did decide to go back, our currency is so high that the exchange rate would cover all our losses + a bit more hopefully. Very lucky indeed- although in the meantime, Brexit will it us even harder than most. I take full responsibility for our decision.

But if 1000s of expats have to move back to UK, broke and with no savings left and health problems - they will need financial support, expensive health care and housing. The UK won't be able to refuse their return, as UK nationals.

In France I think we would be able to join the french health system but would have to pay something. Now, as pensioners, the UK pay 70% of our health costs for most things - we need to pay into an insurance policy for the remaining costs.
To join the french system you pay 8% of your income pa above a certain allowance, I think about 10,000€ per person is allowed before assessing.

If I were considering moving abroad I would certainly factor in the cost of healthcare insurance and the fluctuations in the exchange rate. Likewise I would probably expect not to be able to vote back home after a few years, I would understand that I couldn't just pick and choose once I had chosen to leave.

No payment from within the EU.

To have healthcare insurance here if the reciprocal agreements were cancelled, would cost us a minimum of £400 a month for the 2 of us (+ 10 % of total, + the first £1000 a year to be paid by ourselves too).

No we didn't have to pay. Registered via the local council where we lived last in the UK.

Can ask again please.....
Do overseas residents have to pay to register their UK vote or is it unique to Canada and possibly USA ? Just curious as I was surprised to hear my nephew had to pay

Joelsnan yes we could move around but we did not get automatic rights to live in the EU. A non EU national has a limit of six months a year unless they have a carte de Sejour which needs to be renewed every ten years. There was no reciprocal health care either - we were quoted the€4K a year too Mamie when we enquiried but I think it would be more expensive now.
I think many people do not understand the benefits of being a member of the EU and just take things for granted. This will have a huge impact on thousands of people's lives. The ones who have lived and earned a living in France will be in an entirely different position. It may also be that those of us that pay Social Charges with our tax payments may have other rights - maybe we can elect to pay a bit more - but none of us KNOW for sure and so cannot make any form decisions at all.People with holidays to the RU already booked will be the first to notice a difference with the currency rates. Before moving out of the UK there was no message that maybe our membership of the EU was not binding - a treaty was signed and in effect a promise given which is what many people believed - and now that promise is to be broken - maybe we should all sue for loss of human rights!!!

Many Swiss relatives moved to USA and Australia- at the time because they were invited to do so because they were needed there. And so on.