Harry Shindler writes --- If there is an 'out' vote, then it will affect personally every expat and every expat family. It's very serious indeed. LETS GET ALL OUR EX-PATS INVOLVED. We must win the right to vote in the Referendum - it's up to us all .... as the man* said "Never Tire - Never Weary". *Winston Churchill
For those who live far from Europe the vote may
yet affect you - Please support.
The Referendum Bill - Update
Lobbying has already had an impact: see here ITV's
report on the debate during committee stage on 2 Nov:---
http://www.itv.com/news/2015-11-02/lords-argue-five-million-brits-living-abroad-should-get-a-vote-in-the-eu-referendum/ and also the report on the debate below this email. However, we need to keep up the pressure!
http://www.itv.com/news/2015-11-02/lords-argue-five-million-brits-living-abroad-should-get-a-vote-in-the-eu-referendum/ and also the report on the debate below this email. However, we need to keep up the pressure!
1. The Report Stage takes place in the House of Lords
from Wed 18 November. Baroness Miller (Lib Dem) will
introduce an amendment to give all British Citizens in the
EU a vote in the Referendum. Those resident outside the
EU will not be included as this is unlikely to be accepted.
When Baroness Miller presents her amendment, it is likely
that the Government will tell (whip) its members not to vote
for it, and may even urge them to vote against it. Labour
might also whip against it. Baroness Miller's amendment is
thus likely to fail unless Labour & Conservative peers are
persuaded otherwise by our lobbying.
2. Keep Lobbying Peers please. As mentioned previously, peers' email
addresses can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/.
They are often given as a general contactholmember@parliament.uk
Individual mail addresses
are usually (but not always) the surname with an added
initial. Thus for example,
Baroness Altmann is altmannr@parliament.uk
3. Which
peer should you contact? Some advice from
Baroness Miller follows.
Baroness Miller urges
-----
“The
essential thing now is to get all your friends and family
to lobby members of the House of Lords - either ones they
know, or just pick someone, but choose people who didn’t
speak, rather than those who are already on board. We
suggest especially writing to Baroness Anelay (Con) contactholmember@parliament.uk,
or anelayj@parliament.uk who is in charge of this bill in
the Lords."
NB absolutely essential
that a mail to Baroness Anelay is of a very personalised
nature - if not, the clerks will bin it. Read more in the
article from The Connexion >>>> :http://goo.gl/IKPm8y
Lord Faulks (Conservative
spokesman) spoke against for the government - a personalised
and well argued letter to him would also be useful (note that
he is a barrister by training).
Baroness Morgan (Labour spokesperson)
clearly needs persuasion. Labour does not support the repeal
of the 15 year rule in general but it is worth trying to make
the argument that the EU referendum is a distinct case as
expats are directly affected. Labour supports the franchise
in the EU referendum for 16-17 year olds and has referred to
the impact it will have on their futures. Her email address
is morganeluned@parliament.uk
Please check Hansard
below to see who did speak in favour - so that you can then
target those peers who did not speak.
4. How to write? A personalised letter
is preferable but here is an example for inspiration.
Dear
[Lord] [B/ness] xxxxx
I
have lived outside the UK in [country or
countries] for xx years. As a result I can no longer vote in
British general elections and currently would not be able to
vote in the EU referendum, although I will be seriously
affected [both] personally [and professionally] by its
outcome. Thus the outcome of the referendum is naturally very
important to me. Please vote in favour of any amendment at
the Report Stage of the Referendum Bill tabled by Baroness
Miller to give me the vote.
********************
Hansard
report on the Committee Stage of the Referendum Bill 2nd November
2015
During
Committee Stage, two amendments were proposed by Lord Hannay
(cross bench) and B/ness Miller (LD). A good deal of
cross-party consensus seemed to be building during the debate.
Only Lord Trenchard spoke against, while Lords Dobbs was
ambivalent. He was for the principle but raised the practical
difficulties. It was also not entirely clear whether Lord
Grocott was supportive.
Fourteen members of the Lords spoke firmly
for the proposals:-
[Cons -Lexden, Spicer, Hamilton,
Flight, Bowness, Tugendhat, Garel-Jones; Lab -Royall,
Liddle, Anderson; LD - Wallace, Tyler, Shipley; Cross-Bench -
Green
Unfortunately, B/ness Morgan of Ely's
statement set out Labour's official view as being against repeal
of the 15 year rule, and Lord Faulks [contactholmember@parliament.uk],
speaking
for the Government was also quite clearly against. The full
debate can be found at:-
Starting
at Column 1409 at 3.09 p.m.
Brian
Cave
Jane Golding
