there is much confusion about the differences (if any) between Citizenship and Nationality.
giving up your right to a Nationality is surely vastly different to giving up Citizenship by moving to another country.

Domino your wish re the transferable vote may happen when the Eurozone becomes Germany!

Re the citizenship Nationality thing that is what my point is because I move to Spain for who knows how long that does not make a Spanish National I am still British.

All I am saying is that as a I will be and have to pay tax on my pensions in the UK why should I not be able to vote for who I think will spend my money (tax) wisely. Fact is if I lose that right my one vote counts for nothing but as most things it is the principle of it. I have come across many Brit's that do seem to think that being Resident that makes them a Spanish national.

To be honest apart from my opening vote what you say re the transferable vote has some merit although problem for me I would end up voting in a country where I don't contribute tax to other than VAT and housing taxes of course. Like all things tax not a straight forward argument to be honest pro's and cons either awy.

I am English and will remain so until the day I die, no matter wherer I may happen to live.

So am I, and proud of it

As they say "you can take the girl out of Essex but you will never take Essex out of the girl"
Yes I know there are other variations of that but no space here for them all.

But that is what Nationality is, and as this is PDT - how can you share your nationality with people who answer a dozen tick the box questions and proclaim to be "British" without swearing an allegience.
In the meantime, many organisations are eager to lose the English whilst emphasising the Welsh, Scots, Irish - and we appear to be letting them.

But being in another country shouldnt stop you from either opting to retain your UK vote, or taking the vote you were born with and using it in the country you reside in, for the good of yourself and the citizens of that country.

You should at least have a choice, and not lose what is now seen as a human right after 15 years - although France has given a mandate to all French living outside the country to retain their voting right.

While in Spain then you should have lost the right to vote in UK elections. You don't live there, your son could vote but no way in a million years should you have that 'right' to vote, its a joke. That said I'm all for ex pats getting UK pensions but don't see why they should get a winter fuel payment, that is taking the pee big time.

About the voting, I will have to disagree with you. Why should I stop caring what happens to my country of birth just because I live in another one (and may even still pay taxes and own property in my country of birth)?

WEinter Fuel Payment, many expats don't get it anyway. If you emigrated before the qualifying age, then you won't get it.

I agree with virtually all of this post.

If you have 'the vote', then politicians must consider your needs. If you don't, then they won't. The French have a system of deputies that represent their expatriates - which seems like a pretty good idea. They also have two rounds in elections - where you vote for who you want and then, short of an absolute majority, follow with one of the two top winners.
In the UK, there is nobody to represent or protect us as a group of expatriates. Even the Foreign Office or the consuls have limited interest in us. In Spain, we have no political weight either.

Why not ?
There's parts of Spain have winter weather every bit as cold as the UK and combined with the poor insulation quality of most Spanish houses they could be every bit as much in need.
If they're paid into the system and are due for pensions, then same applies to winter fuel.

Agree, they should get it. However, why am I always reading on here that most of you only pay a tenner a month for electric

Don't think you'll be hearing too much more of that in future.

Or you just might!
http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/27688/

And can live on €10 a day.

I don't agree that EU ex pat pensioners shouldn't get winter fuel payment. I am not at our house full time but in the winter when I visit it can be very cold inside. Whether in UK or Spain your outgoings increase during winter months for heating of whatever type. I honestly don't think you should only get it if you have claimed it in the UK it should be all over retirement age, paid in to the system why not get something back. Only my opinion of course however I don't think the UK by EU rules are allowed to remove from those who have claimed in the UK.

The system appears to be much the same across most countries. If you want to vote for the national government in your adopted country you need to take on nationality. And this involves responsibilties as well as rights.
I don't want a situation where people from elsewhere can move next door to me and simply be allowed to vote for the national government purely because of their new physical location. They should only earn that right to vote if they choose to change their nationality (which may involve being called up under certain circumstances).