Expat Votes

[FredPuli43]

The LibDems have some novel ideas. Any thoughts on expats' MPs or job sharing MPs. If someone has emigrated for over 15 years, have they not distanced themselves from voting ? [Below: The Times]

Expatriates would have their own MPs in the Commons under a Liberal Democrat plan to create overseas constituencies.
The measure is part of an overhaul that would introduce devolution for Cornwall, “recognising its historic, cultural and linguistic claim to autonomy”. Other reforms would allow two candidates to run for Parliament together as “job-share” MPs.
The proposals are among those to be put to the Liberal Democrat spring conference next month and will become the party’s official policy for the next election, should they be voted through.
Seats representing Britons living in Europe, North America and Africa would be introduced, giving a voice to about 800,000 British nationals who live all or part of the year in Spain.
Several European countries give representation to nationals who have emigrated. France adopted the model in 2010, with two seats for North and South America, six covering Europe, two Africa and the Arabian peninsula and one for most of Asia and Oceania.

[FredPuli43]

Your experience of ex-pats must be different from mine, Sqad. The ones in Antibes and area are extraordinarily ignorant of life in Britain. All they can claim is that it isn't the country it was, which is why they left, but that was years ago. They've no idea what everyday life here is now, but I did inform them that Ladysmith had been relieved, for which information they gave much thanks.

[Sqad]

Fred........then these "long standing, out of touch exPats" who have been out of the UK for 15 years or more.......do not have a vote in UK.

What is the problem?

[FredPuli43]

That's the position now Sqad, but the LibDems may be proposing no time limit at all. And what 'constituency' would the whole of Europe or North Africa or any other broad area, represent ?

[ToraToraTora]

what other explanation is there sqad?

[sandyRoe]

One man/woman, one vote should be enough. It can't be right that someone can elect a representative to the Cortes one day and the next vote to send someone to the mother of parliaments.

[ummmm]

Warm weather.

[Sqad]

TTT.......beats me......you have made a good point...........

[jim360]

It could be as simple as wanting a change of scene. I'm sure there are many exzpats leaving the country because of some resentment against the ways things are moving. I'm also sure there are just as many who'd quite like to live somewhere where it's warm and sunny and perhaps prices are cheaper and they can swim in the sea each weekend without freezing to death... it is possible to like one place, but like another even more.

[Sqad]

Fred....you post was about a future proposal for exPats, one of which I have little empathy.
Certain posters have taken the opportunity in "knocking" the present symptom, so i seem to be responding to two differing situations.

TTT......I could live happily in UK, USA, Canada and European country, but after picking one.......doesn't make the others "not good enough to live in" to quote you.

[Sqad]

For "symptom" read system.

[ToraToraTora]

Yes sqad by the same token, I choose to live in England, I don't think I should have the right to have a say in the running of Fiji. If people choose to leave their own country, for whatever reason, how can they expect, or even our numpty politicians, expect on their behalf, to have a vote? Further more anyone who is shallow enough to think the weather is a good reason to leave shouldn't have the vote full stop.

[jim360]

It's probably more complicated than just weather. Could even be because of a particularly lucrative job opportunity!

I'd generally agree that expats oughtn't be able to vote, at least once the move is established as semi-permanent -- but why should we view expats as somehow traitorous? How far does it extend? I'm currently north of the border in Edinburgh, because that's the place that gave me an offer for a university place with a good deal. In the event that the Independence referendum returns a yes vote, and becomes a new country quickly enough, I might suddenly be classed as an expat by the normal definition. It certainly wasn't for the weather... nor was it out of some rejection of England. There are many others in a similar position, offered a great job or position somewhere other than their home country. It's not a traitorous or horrific thing to accept such an offer. So why view it as such?

[Sqad]

TTT....well...could be for medical reasons that the exPat has sought the sun.........asthma, chronic bronchitis or perhaps skin problems e.g psoriasis.

[boxtops]

sqad, that's certainly the case with my friends who relocated to Spain - the warmer climate has done wonders for her medical condition.

[Baldric]

Could this affect The Scottish vote in September?

[ToraToraTora]

yes perhaps, bet they come home for a hip replacement though!

[black_cat51]

The thing is, expats still get welfare benefits (ie pension) even thought they are not living here. The should be allowed to have a say i reckon

[Prudie]

There's some green eyed monsters floating around here. I'm not sure ex-pats still feel the NHS is worth coming back for unless they live in the third world and lots of Brits go abroad specifically for their health care if they can.

[ToraToraTora]

where do you live prudie? try getting medical treatment abroad, see how far you get.

[ToraToraTora]

why do you think ronnie biggs came home?