Britons abroad for more than 15 years can vote again!
#16
#17
Re: Britons abroad for more than 15 years can vote again!
And Portugal even has two electoral constituencies for those living abroad, one for in Europe and one for outside Europe, both with 2 MP's each
And Portuguese have full access to the SNS that we pay for (I do anyway, Govt takes 40% of my meagre wage) even when they live and pay tax abroad, not here
My neighbours live and work and pay tax in Switzerland, but for things not covered there they fly back.
We cant do that in the UK (and rightly so)
And Portuguese have full access to the SNS that we pay for (I do anyway, Govt takes 40% of my meagre wage) even when they live and pay tax abroad, not here
My neighbours live and work and pay tax in Switzerland, but for things not covered there they fly back.
We cant do that in the UK (and rightly so)
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 236
Re: Britons abroad for more than 15 years can vote again!
Being an EU national but having lived and worked in the UK for over 50 years I am only permitted to vote in local elections. Fair enough I could have applied for British citizenship but I didn't. However should Brits residing abroad be allow to give proxy votes to a family member so that they can use the vote in local and/or mayoral elections? Is is right to give family members extra votes if local voters only get one? Also every voter has to bring a photo ID while Brits abroad have to upload a signature. This voting system is wide open to misuse. My god the Tories must be desperate.
#19
Re: Britons abroad for more than 15 years can vote again!
Being an EU national but having lived and worked in the UK for over 50 years I am only permitted to vote in local elections. Fair enough I could have applied for British citizenship but I didn't. However should Brits residing abroad be allow to give proxy votes to a family member so that they can use the vote in local and/or mayoral elections? Is is right to give family members extra votes if local voters only get one? Also every voter has to bring a photo ID while Brits abroad have to upload a signature. This voting system is wide open to misuse. My god the Tories must be desperate.
But I can vote at a national level when I get my PT passport (when I have finally steeled myself up for the bureaucracy-a-thon) as I think you can in the UK, no?
But TBH I wouldn't vote here as there are no alternatives that I would like to think I had voted for
https://www.portugalresident.com/min...ternal-bother/
https://www.portugalresident.com/no-...ques-decision/
https://www.portugalresident.com/reg...ure-to-resign/
https://www.portugalresident.com/che...he-for-police/
etc
etc
etc
Mind you, I think some of the UK politicians must have been here for coaching ...
https://boris-johnson-lies.com/
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the.../9781398501003 (Peter Oborne, previously of Spectator, Daily Mail and Telegraph ...)
If you cant have dual passport (which would have been your country's and the UK's decision) then you would have to make a choice
"Is is right to give family members extra votes"
Eh? That's not how it works
My mum definitely doesn't get to use my vote!
One of the other reason's I vote is to negate hers
I did get her to do it as my proxy before, really wound her up
#20
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 236
Re: Britons abroad for more than 15 years can vote again!
I have just found this in the Q&A section - it seems that Brits abroad cannot vote in local elections Q. Which elections can I vote in under this new legislation?
A. You can vote in any Parliamentary election. This includes general elections and by-elections. Referendums are also likely to be included as the franchise for the 2016 Brexit referendum was the same as for national elections. We still cannot vote in local elections and there are different rules for the Stormont, Senedd and Holyrood elections, in NI, Wales and Scotland.
A. You can vote in any Parliamentary election. This includes general elections and by-elections. Referendums are also likely to be included as the franchise for the 2016 Brexit referendum was the same as for national elections. We still cannot vote in local elections and there are different rules for the Stormont, Senedd and Holyrood elections, in NI, Wales and Scotland.
#22
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,213
Re: Britons abroad for more than 15 years can vote again!
Well, on the one hand there are those ex-pats who found themselves disadvantaged by dint of the Brexit referendum, although that might be balanced by those who, whilst residing in the EU, seem to think they are doing it a favour. On the other hand, there are those who support the idea of a Britain that was so good, they decided to leave it yers ago - and will vote for a government that won't generally affect them, but spends money that they don't contribute. Perhaps they would change their minds if the UK taxed them for the privilege of their citizenship, like the USA does.....
PS - I'm an Irish citizen resident in the UK.... I don't vote in Irish elections.
PS - I'm an Irish citizen resident in the UK.... I don't vote in Irish elections.
#23
Re: Britons abroad for more than 15 years can vote again!
I consider it my patriotic duty to vote in UK general elections now that the UK people have expressed their will and the sovereign UK Parliament has granted it.
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 166
Re: Britons abroad for more than 15 years can vote again!
The UK government wants those of us who live abroad to vote in UK elections. They were voted into office on a manifesto which included a pledge to give votes for life to UK citizens overseas, so it's also The Will of The People which, as we know, must not be contravened.
I consider it my patriotic duty to vote in UK general elections now that the UK people have expressed their will and the sovereign UK Parliament has granted it.
I consider it my patriotic duty to vote in UK general elections now that the UK people have expressed their will and the sovereign UK Parliament has granted it.
#25
Re: Britons abroad for more than 15 years can vote again!
It's perfectly permissible to be a patriotic expat. Our country is demanding it. We need to heed the call.
#26
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 166
#27
Re: Britons abroad for more than 15 years can vote again!
Well it's not really a matter of what you or I expect, is it? It's a matter of a change to legislation brought about by the ruling party of the day, after research and consultation, and which has been welcomed and endorsed by the Electoral Commission.
You're perfectly entitled to take no interest in it if that's the way you feel but I'm not sure why there's so much needle about those who are going to avail themselves of their vote, as though they are somehow going to be doing something underhand.
You're perfectly entitled to take no interest in it if that's the way you feel but I'm not sure why there's so much needle about those who are going to avail themselves of their vote, as though they are somehow going to be doing something underhand.
#28
Re: Britons abroad for more than 15 years can vote again!
Your decision, your free choice. Others may choose differently and that is their free choice.
I agree with you. Legislation changes over time and we either embrace it or simply ignore it. Free choice, Some choose to take up the opportunity whilst others may not. No shame either way.
Rosemary
Well it's not really a matter of what you or I expect, is it? It's a matter of a change to legislation brought about by the ruling party of the day, after research and consultation, and which has been welcomed and endorsed by the Electoral Commission.
You're perfectly entitled to take no interest in it if that's the way you feel but I'm not sure why there's so much needle about those who are going to avail themselves of their vote, as though they are somehow going to be doing something underhand.
You're perfectly entitled to take no interest in it if that's the way you feel but I'm not sure why there's so much needle about those who are going to avail themselves of their vote, as though they are somehow going to be doing something underhand.
Rosemary
#30
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2019
Location: Lagos and Hong Kong
Posts: 572
Re: Britons abroad for more than 15 years can vote again!
Well, I tried. I filled in the online form and clicked submit and then a week or so later received an email saying they couldn’t find me at my last address before I left the uk in 1990. So I replied and gave them my address before the one I’d submitted and they replied again saying I need to provide proof of living there (I was actually born there) such as a gas bill or similar otherwise my application would not be accepted. Why would I have a gas bill from pre 1990 (and we didn’t have gas). Looks like no one will get my vote.