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

M0nica, your points on living in the community and knowing it's needs are spot on. I know about these as my children still live in the same constituency, so not ignorant about the current situation. However these points are just part of the bigger picture. I stand by my reasons for wanting to vote as stated in my earlier post.

Also I always vote when I am able to as people died getting the vote for the whole population, not just women. So I wish to uphold this right whenever possible.

I find the best way of knowing what’s really going on where I live is the community Facebook page, everything is on there from planning permission, empty shops, schools,, who’s died, had children or got married, local businesses, events, down to lost dogs, children’s toys and glasses. The whole gamut of local life. I could move 10000 miles away and still feel part of everything that’s going on. I’m not defending people who left the UK over 15 years ago still being able to vote, just saying that these days you don’t need to live somewhere to be fully au fait with the comings and goings.

How does this ex-pat vote work though? When I vote, I vote for my candidate who represents this area rather than a party although I am aware that I may be voting for a party loyal. How do Ex-Pats vote for a particular Constituency? Do they vote for Councillors too?

icanhandthemback

How does this ex-pat vote work though? When I vote, I vote for my candidate who represents this area rather than a party although I am aware that I may be voting for a party loyal. How do Ex-Pats vote for a particular Constituency? Do they vote for Councillors too?

You vote in the constituency where you last lived in the UK. You can do it by postal vote or use a proxy who will vote for you in that constituency.

harrigran

My DD has lived abroad for 14 years and no I don't think she should be able to vote. If you leave the country of your birth then live by the rules of where you have settled.

What do you mean by your last sentence?

What would you say if your DD wanted to vote in the UK. Would you go to the extreme of falling out with her? That's what happened with several people after the Brexit vote.

I would think that most of us live by the rules of our country of residence. That has nothing to do with us voting in the UK should we chose to do so.

Currently, I am an expat and am registered to vote. I do know a lot about my area. I belong to the group in my block of flats and that is one of my interests. Then I am a member of my local Next Door. I read our local papers plus 3 nationals and have friends in London. I am a party member so know what is going on in my constituency. I guess I do know more than many people who have no interest in politics. If I was not interested then I would not bother to vote.

Not really to do with this discussion, but in response to your post about homeless people in London, Dinahmo, I'm shocked at the French way of dealing with this problem. Just bus the homeless out of Paris each week off to the provinces! All in an effort to tidy up the capital for the Olympic Games.

Joseann

Not really to do with this discussion, but in response to your post about homeless people in London, Dinahmo, I'm shocked at the French way of dealing with this problem. Just bus the homeless out of Paris each week off to the provinces! All in an effort to tidy up the capital for the Olympic Games.

So was London tidied up for the Olympics. All the homeless seemed to disappear.

I’m shocked with how the French deal with a lot of things, but particularly the asylum seekers.

So only Joseann mentioned my point. Thank you Joseann.

So it’s okay for all the ex pats who have lived abroad for 15 years or more to have their vote, and apparently it’s also okay for British children, taken abroad by their parents in their childhood, to pay university fees as international students because they are regarded as foreign students.
So now I understand, it’s all about you, and what you want. Basically you don’t even care enough to comment about the huge disadvantage that British children face if wishing to return to study in a Britain to university. That is a huge disadvantage for them, but never mind, you’ve got your vote.

My family live overseas and do not feel they have the right to vote in UK elections.
Why would they?

They are invested in the countries they moved to now.
If they do ever return they will then vote here.

The other thing I believe I'm right in saying, is that children of expats attending a UK university cannot apply for student loans in the same way. So not only are their fees more expensive, but their families need to find additional money for living costs.
I'm of the opinion that if you move abroad, you need to factor in everything it will cost you. That's why I get cross when expats complain about things like fluctuations in the exchange rate or that they don't receive the heating allowance.

Joseann, DS and family live in Spain. My eldest DGD is at a British university and was able to get loans for fees and maintenance as she was born in England and has a British passport. The other two are not able to at the moment as they were born in Spain and only have a Spanish passport. (I am not sure if they could get a British one as father is British. ) Second DGD has decided to pursue a course in Spain, whilst my DGS is still at school so not relevant at the moment.

Agreed Joseann.
My daughter seems to think that her children only have to live in England for one year before, as British citizens, they are treated as British by the university system.
Adults make a decision to move abroad, but children don’t, and my grandchildren regularly say they want to return to England because my family is there. They can’t do that at present as their father is refusing to allow my daughter and children to return to Britain (of course my daughter could return, but she won’t leave her children) and my daughter is aware that universities in Britain tend to be better and offer more opportunities than the small number that are here. I’m not saying NZ universities aren’t good, but the opportunities are better in the UK. Anyway, in actual fact, British citizens need to be resident in Britain for three years to qualify as a British student. And as you say Joseann if not treated as a British student, they then cannot apply for student loans.

A strange silence has descended on this thread. Maybe no one else finds this inconsistent.

That’s interesting Nandalot, I looked up the guidelines and it was clear that three years residency in Britain is required in order to qualify as a British student.
My grandchildren have only been out of the country for just over two years, they are British, and both parents are British.
I hope mine can qualify but I’m doubtful. They may of course, have returned before then. Or not want to go to university.

It's Student Finance England who grant the loans in conjunction with individual universities. It's a complex area, hence my advice to check everything in advance.
To receive publicly funded student support, including tuition fee and maintenance loans, students must also be allocated home status byStudent Finance England. Student Finance England has no discretion in this area and must follow the regulations.

Thanks Joseann.
Yes, a very complex area.
It’s rather sad though that British children can be disadvantaged in this way, as your son was, whilst people who have lived abroad for donkeys years are given the huge privilege of a vote in our elections.
Looking to the future, it’s the youngest people who will make the difference. If our young people come back to university, they are more likely to stay and add to British life through their jobs and taxes.

A strange silence has descended on this thread. Maybe no one else finds this inconsistent.
I know when we moved abroad, this sort of issue received a far higher priority in our minds than whether we could still vote back home. Luckily our accountant was able to advise and research the best option for our needs.

Looking to the future, it’s the youngest people who will make the difference. If our young people come back to university, they are more likely to stay and add to British life through their jobs and taxes.
Yes, I find it strange that "inactive" expat retirees aren't nodding in agreement.

Perhaps they went to live overseas after their children had left home.

If they have any, that is.

maddyone if your daughter has claimed UK child benefit for her children this can also help. My DS1 is nearly 40 now, and I know the rules change constantly, so the key is to note everything in advance which might be helpful for your DGC'S futures.

Thanks Joseann. My daughter was unable to claim Child Benefit for her children because the household income was too high. My son has never been able to claim for the same reason.

These changes for students studying in the UK are entirely as a result of Brexit. It is a deplorable situation. Perhaps if British citizens living in other European countries longer than 15 years had had a vote in the referendum, Brexit and its appalling consequences might never have happened.
It would be interesting to know if Brexit voters took it into consideration.

No mamie they are not!
Children live abroad with their parents in different countries all over the world, not just in Europe. My grandchildren currently live in New Zealand. Perhaps you can explain how Brexit affected my grandchildren in NZ?
This discussion is not about Brexit, it’s about British people ALL over the world voting in our elections or sending their born in Britain, British children to university in the country of their birth.

The British in Europe group of volunteers worked very hard to protect students and their families.
www.britishineurope.org/articles/95076-uk-universities-home-fees-student-finance
I agree that rules for British migrants can be unfair, including university fees and state pension increases for those outside of Europe.
As we can see in the 15 year rule legislation, long-term campaigning can bring about change and protect migrant British citizens.