So Brits who live abroad can now vote in the General Election.

I have never agreed with the Republic of Ireland having a vote in our elections. Why? We don’t have a vote in theirs! As for the whole of the Commonwealth, well to be frank, I had no idea. That means the people of a huge number of countries can actually vote in our elections!!! Absolutely and utterly ridiculous.

As for ex pats feeling smug because they can vote in our elections, well I’m afraid they simply have no morality. Anyone, anyone at all who thinks they have the right to vote in a British election, but has decided to go off and live elsewhere because it’s better, has no sense of morality at all.

Mamie

Exactly Cold. We have not gone through the (minimum) two year process for citizenship in France because there are lots of younger working people who need it much more than we do. Our son is now Spanish and has had to renounce his British citizenship.
I regret the fact that Brexit means I can no longer serve as an elected local councillor here. I do spend a lot of time teaching English on a voluntary basis, including the French U3A.

Mamie are you saying France only allows a set number of people to apply for/gain citizenship each year? How odd, I'd have thought qualifying for citizenship should be all that matters. Does anybody know if the UK has a strict number limit as googling doesn't give any answers?

Citizens of Commonwealth countries other than the United Kingdom can not register to vote as over seas electors

From The Electoral Commission

So Commonwealth citizens are not eligible to vote in UK elections unless they are citizens of the United Kingdom.
I thought it sounded strange that they could.

That's about it. It won't make any real difference anyway.
Will the MP of say Bournemouth East give a monkey's about the opinions of retired Mr & Mrs Expat in sunny Spain?

My reply was to nanna8.

I think Rosie51 that the numbers each year are limited by the length of the queue. There are a lot of migrants to France, many of whom have French as their first language. When we applied for residence before Brexit our individual dossiers were over an inch thick.
My son in Spain has a Spanish wife and children. It still took him over two years and he got 97% in the language exam.
Look how hard the exam is for British citizenship.
People who think it is a simple solution really don't understand the complexities.
I am happy to be British in Europe. Not sure why people find that so hard to understand. I speak French and make a contribution as best I can. I am still not French.
The French understand this very well and are horrified at the idea of not having a vote in their country, wherever they live. I understand they even get voting booths in London.

maddyone

^Citizens of Commonwealth countries other than the United Kingdom can not register to vote as over seas electors ^

From The Electoral Commission

So Commonwealth citizens are not eligible to vote in UK elections unless they are citizens of the United Kingdom.
I thought it sounded strange that they could.

Perhaps it is a new thing then as it's in the Parliamentary document "Who can vote in UK Elections?" that Qualifying Commonwealth citizens have the right to vote in the UK

Qualifying Commonwealth citizen - A qualifying Commonwealth citizen is someone who is resident in the UK and who has leave to remain in the UK or does not require leave to remain

and

*Malta and Cyprus are both Commonwealth and EU countries. Citizens of both countries have voting rights to all elections in the UK, if they are resident and
fulfil all other criteria, because of their Commonwealth status*

researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8985/CBP-8985.pdf

I know a few people who gave up applying for citizenship in France because it was too onerous - mainly the language! My friend's DH, (she is half French), only got it because she went along to all the things with him and did all the hard work!

I think you are making the best of the situation there, Mamie. I was a bénévole too and set up the after-school homework club in my village in France. My loyalties were to the country I lived in, and I was happy to immerse myself fully. What was happening in the UK was of little significance and none of my business. You can't long to be part of something you have turned your back on, in my opinion.

maddyone

^Citizens of Commonwealth countries other than the United Kingdom can not register to vote as over seas electors ^

From The Electoral Commission

So Commonwealth citizens are not eligible to vote in UK elections unless they are citizens of the United Kingdom.
I thought it sounded strange that they could.

I think what this means is that they cannot vote from Abroad as overseas electors - but they can vote if they live in the UK

Personally I had never thought of being anything other than British. I moved to Sweden because of my (non-Swedish) husband's job as a healthcare professional. We both retained citizenship of our own countries. We were unsure how long we would remain in Sweden as he works in a very sought after, shortage medical specialty. Sweden was not the only European country we lived in.

But we remained longer. I started a post-graduate degree and once the kids were in the school system moving became more difficult. Although we had thought at one time we would go to the UK as DH had received several attractive job offers to join the NHS. However Brexit changed all of that.

I decided that although I don't really feel Swedish that I should convert my long-term resident status into citizenship.

For me it was a very simple process as I was eligible in several separate categories of entitlement to citizenship and had been eligible for 18 years but never thought to claim it as I was a Brit. But if I had not -losing my EU status and rights would mean a lot more red tape, bureaucracy and regular trips to immigrant registration centres 150-200 miles away to get passport and visa stamps etc (they closed the one 10 miles from my house). Compared to others the process was unbelievably fast - Sweden allows dual nationals so that is not an issue. I had my Swedish citizenship 12 days after applying and I can get my passport at a nearby police station.

But there won't be any NHS job now for DH - not worth the immigration hassles to come anymore and be subjected to the hostile Home Office.

nanna8

I would be curious about how many ex pats actually will vote. I’m guessing not that many. I doubt it will make any difference at all.

I've lived in France for 15 years. I was asked by a French acquaintance if I would apply for citizenship in France. My answer was no because I am British. Much as I enjoy living here my answer was because I am not French. I do not think in the same way as the French.

I will vote in the GE because I care about what happens to the UK. I hate the way it is going at the moment. One friend who has lived here for longer than me has already started to apply for a postal vote. We did a postal vote for a previous election - it must have been when the Tories won back in 2010 and the forms for the postal vote, even though we applied well in advance, did not reach us in time. I seem to remember that there were many complaints at that time about delays.

There's been plenty of speculation that once Sunak is ousted as PM he'll be off to the USA to pursue other avenues. Will those that intend to vote from their country of residence be happy for him to still have a vote and influence on how the UK is governed? (I do realise his vote would have nil influence but it's the principal at stake)

No matter how up to date you think you are, how much uk tv you watch, reading the guardian on line, or talking to a family and friends in the uk, you are not up to date.

(Rosie at 9:36 this morning)

I would contend that there are plenty of people living in the UK who do have a right to vote who are just as ill-informed.

So much to say on this subject but I think I'll leave it, except to say that in my small circle of 7 expats I think only 2 will be applying to vote. I expect we'll be discussing this next time we meet up.

JackyB

^No matter how up to date you think you are, how much uk tv you watch, reading the guardian on line, or talking to a family and friends in the uk, you are not up to date.^

(Rosie at 9:36 this morning)

I would contend that there are plenty of people living in the UK who do have a right to vote who are just as ill-informed.

So much to say on this subject but I think I'll leave it, except to say that in my small circle of 7 expats I think only 2 will be applying to vote. I expect we'll be discussing this next time we meet up.

JackyB No it wasn't Rosie at 9.36 it was Mamardoit Please correct your post.

Thank you. It's interesting to hear from those expats abroad - no doubt you're all on forums, (I'm not), where the right to a UK vote is discussed amongst yourselves. Equally interesting to balance that with the strong disapproval on GN which reflects the feelings of many in the UK.
All good discussion.

Whitewavemark2

Sunak must be looking looking to the (quite near) future 🤞, as I suspect that you won’t see his proverbial for steam if he loses the election and off he will go to live the dream in USA, but retain his vote.

But I did read somewhere that ex-pats are more likely to vote Tory - largely an older demography.

If people have left the country many of them have been disenchanted. Only have to sit in a cafe to hear ex pats spout their strongly held, often ignorant views, Can’t imagine Sunak could rely on their vote.

Much like Gordon Brown increasing benefits so much that it made it unprofitable to get a job. That obviously didn’t work either.

JackyB

^No matter how up to date you think you are, how much uk tv you watch, reading the guardian on line, or talking to a family and friends in the uk, you are not up to date.^

(Rosie at 9:36 this morning)

I would contend that there are plenty of people living in the UK who do have a right to vote who are just as ill-informed.

So much to say on this subject but I think I'll leave it, except to say that in my small circle of 7 expats I think only 2 will be applying to vote. I expect we'll be discussing this next time we meet up.

Yes there are no doubt many ill informed voters in the UK. The big difference is they will live with the results of their ignorance. Those who have lived abroad for many years and will almost certainly never return should not vote.

The original post this morning was mine by the way.

I'm not sure why the OP assumes that UK citizens living abroad don't pay UK tax ?
Firstly , everything that I do is in accordance with the laws of both the UK and France.
I am a lifelong and intend to continue to be a UK citizen.
I too am British living in France. I moved when I was 67 years old , three years ago. We are not sure whether we will stay abroad or return to the UK but even should I die abroad I will still have spent nearly 80% of my life in the UK.
I am a lifelong and continuing UK taxpayer and for the 40 years that the UK was a member of the EU , I was, in my opinion, indirectly , also an EU taxpayer.
Can I repeat, very clearly, that I am a lifelong and continuing UK taxpayer and that prior to my retirement I worked for nearly 45 years, 95% of it full time.I have paid and continue to pay plenty of UK tax.
I also pay the French tax that is legally due to the French government.
I am entitled to retain an interest in my country and how it is governed and as it happens I have just been re-granted , this very day my Overseas Postal Vote so that I can vote in the forthcoming general election.
I have family members in the UK and I take an interest in the fate of the country also with a mind for their futures, especially the young ones. If we ever got someone like Trump in the UK then I would be delighted to have the opportunity to try and vote him out.
Other posters have pointed out that in the digital age one can remain fully informed and that many countries including the USA allow their citizens abroad to vote in US elections.
Among other examples I consider my right to vote just as valid as UK citizens living in the UK that don't bother to vote at all , particularly in General Elections.
I am not , post Brexit , allowed to be politically active in France.

Of course, why didn’t I think of it? Sunak will be off to America fastest than a rat out of a bolt hole after he is defeated and he wants to retain his vote!

Whitewavemark2

Sunak must be looking looking to the (quite near) future 🤞, as I suspect that you won’t see his proverbial for steam if he loses the election and off he will go to live the dream in USA, but retain his vote.

But I did read somewhere that ex-pats are more likely to vote Tory - largely an older demography.

Exactly this. It is a cynical and under the radar attempt to pick up votes from retirees living abroad who, as you rightly say, are far more likely to vote Tory. They really are desperate and with little wonder.

Not sure why they are more likely to vote Tory ? Many left because of Margaret Thatcher etc. Last time I looked she was a conservative. All this talk has made me think about applying! As for the comments about smug expats, well, what a lovely attitude.

Is Rishi's perception that retired expats are all wealthy Tory supporters living in big villas and sipping sangria round the pool?!

Joseann

Is Rishi's perception that retired expats are all wealthy Tory supporters living in big villas and sipping sangria round the pool?!

I wish 🍷😀

I am sorry that many of you disagree with expats voting.
If Rishi believes that retired expats are all wealthly Tory supporters then he is out of date

I live in Canada where 2% of the population are British people (about 600,000) of ALL ages reside and you might be relieved to know that many are actually bang up to date regarding British politics.
I have dual Citizenship and hold both British and Canadian passports.
I own property in the UK, have family there and visit for extended periods. I care about the impact of Government policies on the British public and family members.
I am entitled to vote in the General Election, Therefore I do.