Harry Shindler at MBE award ceremony in 2014. The veteran has been campaigning for Britons abroad to be able to vote beyond the current 15-year limit. Photograph: British embassy Rome/Flickr

 

Lisa O'Carroll

 

Move unveiled in Queen’s Speech could impact 3 million British nationals overseas

 

British nationals living overseas for more than 15 years will be given the right to vote in elections under new laws tabled by the government, ending a 20-year battle by 99-year-old Harry Shindler.

 

The move, unveiled in the Queen’s speech, could give the right to vote in local and general elections to 3 million Britons retired or working abroad.

 

“I might have a glass of wine to celebrate,” said Shindler, a second world war veteran, who celebrates his 100th birthday in July.

 

He said the electoral integrity bill, which aims among other things to remove the 15-year limit on “the voting rights of British expats and making it easier to cast their vote”, would deliver British nationals their “last democratic right”

 

A tireless campaigner for the right to vote, the promise represents a crowning moment for Shindler who took his case unsuccessfully to the high court in 2016 and the European court of justice in 2018.

 

Full story: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/11/britons-living-abroad-for-more-than-15-years-to-be-given-right-to-vote

 

-- © Copyright The Guardian 2021-05-13

 

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I think most of us would much rather have our pension increases.

 

There, I've said it!

 

And about time too

30 minutes ago, Crossy said:

I think most of us would much rather have our pension increases.

 

There, I've said it!

 

Yep. Could not give a toss about a vote.

3 minutes ago, fishtank said:

Yep. Could not give a toss about a vote.

Well unfortunately I think the British Government have similar sentiments towards us as I think that there is more probability of getting the vote than there is for us to get the annual pension increases.

My vote is for sale,simply index my pension ,backdated,and I am yours.

3 minutes ago, Thailand said:

My vote is for sale,simply index my pension ,backdated,and I am yours.

You cheap tart ????

1 hour ago, fishtank said:

Yep. Could not give a toss about a vote.

Nor could I at the moment.

 

BUT

 

Every citizen of every country should have the RIGHT to vote, or not to vote or to spoil their ballot paper by drawing a willy on it or whatever else they like.

 

The right to vote is something we are all entitled to, coming from a democratic country, regardless of how long we have been away. 

The right to vote is something totally different from voting in and of itself. 

Edited May 13, 20215 yr by WineOh

I have not lived in England since 1978 and am I interested in voting there...........NOPE

 

If they really want to give us something, As Crossy says sort out the discrimination with the pensions.

6 hours ago, Crossy said:

I think most of us would much rather have our pension increases.

 

There, I've said it!

 

Are there pension increases in-country that you don't get if you're living overseas, or is the problem pension increases, in general?

1 minute ago, Songlaw said:

Are there pension increases in-country that you don't get if you're living overseas,

 

This.

 

It's actually worse than that because if you live in some countries you DO get the increases, Thailand is one where you do not. 

2 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

This.

 

It's actually worse than that because if you live in some countries you DO get the increases, Thailand is one where you do not. 

Ah. Now I get (and agree with) the gripe. You're right. That's worse. Thanks for the feedback.

17 minutes ago, Rimmer said:

I have not lived in England since 1978 and am I interested in voting there...........NOPE

 

If they really want to give us something, As Crossy says sort out the discrimination with the pensions.

Would you still cadge a pension after not living there for over forty years? ????

6 minutes ago, Katipo said:

Me thinks the UK would be better off without the votes of the long-term singlet wearing chang swilling pot bellied middle aged men out this way. 

Britain First need the votes mate.

Just now, Mr Meeseeks said:

Would you still cadge a pension after not living there for over forty years? ????

Well as a minimum you would have to have had 10 qualifying years. So starting work in 1968 or before would thus make it possible, albeit at a reduced rate.

If you have been living away from a country for 15 years you will have little idea on voting for the right choices, so I believe NZ has got it right.

Over 3 years out of the country no vote, over 5 years of living & working overseas, no Universal pension payments. On your return 2 years after  pension reinstated.

The "Nanny State" has to end

A troll post has been removed

The way I see it is, having the vote gives us expats leverage to get the government to change the rules which affect us such as pensions. If people here don't give a toss about their vote but they care about their pensions then they are missing the point of having the vote! Don't you  wonder why politicians don't give a toss about you or your pension. You are not their constituent. It ain't rocket science!

Well, if you had the right to vote in your country of residence, I guess it would make some sense, why should a person have two votes. Failing that, I don't see the problem. The pensions frozen thing is a different problem entirely. it's economic. You want your pensioners spending their money at home, not swanning off to some destination that gives them geographic arbitrage. It is public money, after all, the State Pension, that is.

48 minutes ago, natway09 said:

If you have been living away from a country for 15 years you will have little idea on voting for the right choices, so I believe NZ has got it right.

Over 3 years out of the country no vote, over 5 years of living & working overseas, no Universal pension payments. On your return 2 years after  pension reinstated.

The "Nanny State" has to end

But enter the UK illegally on a dingy and you get benefits from day 1 and a vote once the pantomime to remove you is over...

Also bear in mind, you might have self exiled due to the state of the government. We had 15 years of tories so not really much choice but to stay away then until things changed. Honestly speaking though, it was Blair and his rights removing government who took away my vote. Not as if we have any voting rights here is it? Being disenfranchised is not democratic and if knowledge of current affairs in Blighty is the excuse, then sorry, they should take away the vote of all those idiotic working class tories who are exploited by Murdoch and co. They obviously don't vote in their self interest so one can only assume they shouldn't be given the right to vote!

I'm going to vote for the Communist party.

Gives a chance for those Scots who want to vote 'leave'..

I hope this includes being able to vote in the Scottish poll to separate/stay in the Union.  I am Scots by birth and educated in Scotland.  I served in the Armed Forces and then the MOD as a Civil Servant and all my pensions are tied up to those employments and don't want the "Poison Dwarf" bankrupting Scotland and loosing my pensions.  Has anyone read how as a Solicitor she was found Guilty of three issues?  Failing to take out a Protection Order for a Woman being harassed, failing to submit her legal aid application and then lying about it.  She was found Guilty on all three accounts, at which point she became a MP for the SNP.  She said she "forgot" about submitting the application.  Where have we heard that her defense in a subsequent legal case was "forgot" and also failed to protect members of her fellow gender.  Scotland.....Wake up.  She is a dubious conniving liar and you deserve a more honest and less self interested person to lead you.

8 hours ago, webfact said:

British nationals living overseas for more than 15 years will be given the right to vote in elections under new laws tabled by the government

If you have chosen to reside somewhere other than your home country, then you should not have any say in how that country is run.

 

If you are that concerned then end your expat life and go home to fight the ''good'' fight...

Edited May 13, 20215 yr by Bluespunk
A not too many

A Tory promise that Brits living abroad for more than fifteen years will be allowed to vote.' What about- 'Brits living abroad will receive the same pensions as those living in the home country?' -We payed our dues and some served Queen and country. A country that was supposedly built on fairness, but in reality does not practice what it preaches. Unless you are one of the upper class privileged of course. A vote? What party would address the iniquity of expat pensions? I raised the question many years ago and Nigel Ben replied 'Its not on the Government's agenda.' It seems like it never will be. Vote? For what. Our years in uniform count for nothing. 

27 minutes ago, Medicine Man said:

But enter the UK illegally on a dingy and you get benefits from day 1 and a vote once the pantomime to remove you is over...

 

 

On the Benefits-side of your statement, no, they don't.

 

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-immigrant-benefits-uk-idUSKBN22J30G

 

 

 

 

8 minutes ago, robertson468 said:

I hope this includes being able to vote in the Scottish poll to separate/stay in the Union.  I am Scots by birth and educated in Scotland.  I served in the Armed Forces and then the MOD as a Civil Servant and all my pensions are tied up to those employments and don't want the "Poison Dwarf" bankrupting Scotland and loosing my pensions.  Has anyone read how as a Solicitor she was found Guilty of three issues?  Failing to take out a Protection Order for a Woman being harassed, failing to submit her legal aid application and then lying about it.  She was found Guilty on all three accounts, at which point she became a MP for the SNP.  She said she "forgot" about submitting the application.  Where have we heard that her defense in a subsequent legal case was "forgot" and also failed to protect members of her fellow gender.  Scotland.....Wake up.  She is a dubious conniving liar and you deserve a more honest and less self interested person to lead you.

 

And yet she has just been returned as the First Minister of Scotland.

If the Holyrood elections were run the same as Westminster elections then Sturgeon and the SNP would have taken 88% of the seats in the Scottish parliament.

Seems many feel she is doing a good job after all.

15 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

Gives a chance for those Scots who want to vote 'leave'..

 

I am Scottish and pro independence but I feel it would be wrong for me to be voting in a referendum.

Its surely up to the people who actually live in Scotland to decide their own future.

30 minutes ago, nausea said:

Well, if you had the right to vote in your country of residence, I guess it would make some sense, why should a person have two votes. Failing that, I don't see the problem. The pensions frozen thing is a different problem entirely. it's economic. You want your pensioners spending their money at home, not swanning off to some destination that gives them geographic arbitrage. It is public money, after all, the State Pension, that is.

You mean by being in the UK we will be claiming a multitude of benefits and leaning on the National Health Service using public money that was contributed by the likes of me in taxes and National Insurance contributions. No. Those benefits go to many who contributed nothing. I didn't swan off. and never ponced off the government. I had a good reason.