I was sent a copy of an article
in the September edition of The Central Brittany Journal (www.thecbj.com) by
James Bell – “So what happens if Britain
leaves the EU?”
After the Corbyn election as
leader of the Labour Party, and the migrant crisis which is seriously affecting
sentiment in the UK,
the verdict in the Referendum becomes yet more problematic. The pendulum of the
decision is swinging violently.
A large number of British
Citizens in Europe (i.e. the EU) and elsewhere close their brains, and
do not want to think about it. Yet the
tendrils of the British State
affect all British Citizens – the so-called expats wherever they live. I dislike the word ‘expat’. It is too often
misspelled expatriot which indicates
a rejection of links with one’s homeland. The word expatriate simply indicates
that one lives outside of the borders of the homeland.
But few of us would be living in France
if it were not for the treaties signed between the UK
and the EU. James Bell observes that
there are as many French living in SE England as Brits
living in France.
A ‘Brexit’ would affect both. The French in the UK
are financially dependent on the UK,
being young and active. But the Brits in France
include a large contingent of pensioners (>63,000) also financially
dependent on the UK. We expect the British Government to ‘act
in our name and in our interest’ when treaties and laws are
framed. How the hell can they do that
when there is no adequate representation of our interests in the Westminster
parliament?
If you do write to an MP they
generally pass your message to some Department which replies with a garbage
repetition of policy which gets sent back to you. It is impossible to change policy unless some
dedicated politician has YOUR interest at heart. Most care not a fig.
By default, the Westminster
politicians, in effect directed by the Whitehall
bureaucrats act as they see it – ‘in the
interest of the Nation!’ What, one
asks! is this Nation? Is it the rivers, the hills, the towns
and villages? Or is it the people, the men women and children who have an
affinity with the State of Britain – The British People – wherever they live.
Those of British nationality.
The affair of the Winter Fuel
Payment is just one example of how the bureaucracy has become twisted to not
care for the British citizen, but for the British treasury. Balancing the books is essential, but it must
be achieved in the fairest manner without discrimination. The State pension affair is a further
deplorable instance, where it is frozen for those who desire to live with their
children in Australia and could well be frozen for us in Europe if the Brexit
should arise [Corbyn is against the freezing!].
Health support is part of the treaties for the British pensioner in France
and other EU countries. [see EU regulation 883/2004 on social security]. That could collapse.
If Brexit came about, we would be
foreigners in Europe and no longer EU citizens. That could open ways for the French
State to invent other impositions –
An uncertain world would lie before us.
That is why we need
Representation at Westminster. For many of us who have lived outside the UK
for more than 15 years we have not a chance of getting our voice heard. For those who left the UK
more recently you can vote.
The VOTE is not full
‘representation’. For that a reform of parliament is necessary. The total
number of MPs need to be reduced, but in that re-organisation some space must
be found for a few MPs who understand the life of the citizens abroad in the
same manner as have the French and the Italians. They, who are resident in England,
all have political representation in Paris
or Rome!
But for now – our voice, such as
it is, must be heard loud and clear in London. We must vote to stay in the EU. There are amongst us turkeys who would vote
for the Christmas carve up. But the
younger as well as the older citizens will suffer uncertain times if the UK
leaves the EU.
Mr. Cameron has promised us the
VOTE-for-LIFE this session. We still await that Bill to be tabled for
debate. There are MPs who will say that we do not need it, do not want it, and
that it is ‘inappropriate’. We certainly
need it. We need it as a first step to
full representation.
If you register to vote NOW,
you will have a vote to stay in the EU. You will also be able to vote in the
next general election. You may get the
right to challenge any position of the Government.
There are those who say ‘I do not
want to vote for a UK
MP, I want to vote for a French député’.
That is a strong argument. But
why does it have to be an either/or choice?
Whilst you remain British the tendrils of the British bureaucracy
stretch towards you. You need to have a
say in any treaty obligation that affects you. You need the chance to express
your views to Government about anything that affects you as a British Citizen
beyond the shores of the UK.
To claim your right to vote go to
this link. It takes 5 minutes to complete it.
And when you have an MP – keep
him/her occupied and argue with them by mail.
You could send them this item.
http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/
http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/
