British Pensioners in Europe and beyond - An Analysis.

British Pensioners in Europe and beyond – An Analysis.

The emigration of pensioners to Europe and beyond.

 The countries coloured Blue are in the EU.  Those without star *  have pensions frozen at the time the recipient emigrated.  

Of  the 12,955,300 Citizens who receive the UK State Pension, by 2015 - 1,230,390 live outside the UK. That is 9.5%. 

QUESTIONS………………….

1. Why do the pensioners emigrate? 
2. Why has the numbers generally flattened off since 2011?
3. Is this emigration of advantage or not to the British Economy?
4. What are the advantages or disadvantages to the pensioners in emigrating?
5. Why have the numbers in Pakistan and Jamaica fallen so much?
6. And why have they fallen in Australia and Canada and South Africa?  - And Italy?
7. Why have the numbers risen so much in N.Z., Ireland and France between 2008 - 2014? Why the increase to India – a frozen pension country?

Suggestions for the answers – derived from anecdotal evidence.

1.  Why do the pensioners emigrate? 

            It varies –

Often the housing costs are considerably cheaper.  (Much of Europe,)

Some are joining children who have previously emigrated. (Australia, Canada)

Some are returning to the land of their birth. (India? Jamaica? Ireland? )

Summer weather/climate is drier and warmer  (Much of  Europe)

The countries of retirement are English Speaking  (Ireland, N.Z. etc)

There is more space and a less hectic way of life (Much of Europe).

The desire for new adventure while there is still time -- 

Exposure to a different culture ,and, learning a new language, broadening experience

Some dislike of changes in the UK, especially any which restrict their lives.

2. Why has the numbers generally flattened off since 2011?

The threatening approach of a possible Brexit? (All Europe curves). The Times journal 29/03/16 reports that ‘a hundred a day are returning to the UK from Spain’.

See also Italy q.7 below. Austerity?

Remembering that everyone has a certain life-span.  The increase in numbers represents additions minus deaths.  It is likely that a ceiling in the curve of those emigrating would be reached. However note the countries where the %’s fall.
Further a slight addition could be of those who have achieved pensionable age whilst living abroad.

3.  Is this emigration of advantage or not to the British Economy?

.Positive  - The pensioners do not use the physical facilities of the NHS, even though those in Europe get some payment of their medical care.  Those far from Europe get no support.

They free up some housing stock.

They do not use the free bus passes and TV licences which saves money.

Many have UK based investments, benefiting the economy, and could and would  do so more if the UK Government made it easier.

Negative – Their pensions are not all spent in the UK economy.

4. What are the advantages or disadvantages to the pensioners in emigrating?

Positive – as listed generally in answer to 1.

Negative – Lack of any voice at all at the political level – leading to no voice in the manner and use of UK investments.

A feeling of almost total neglect or lack of interest in them by the British Government.

In certain countries the pension falls in value year by year as it is frozen.

5. Why have the numbers in Pakistan and Jamaica fallen so much?

Possibly the standard of living and Governance of these countries is a problem. Pakistan also has a frozen pension regime.

6. And why have they fallen in Australia and Canada and South Africa?.

The freezing of the State pension is a very likely cause.

And Italy?  Uncertain – The fears of a Brexit seem most likely.

7. Why have the numbers risen so much in N.Z., Ireland and France between 2008-2014?

N.Z. provides pensions which supplement the frozen UK pension and it is a very ‘English’ country.

Ireland is almost certainly the birth-land or ancestral land of many UK State pensioners. It has more space and in many ways is so similar to England.

France is adjacent to England and there is easy access to family and friends, within a short time travel.

India has a steadily rising economy, but is at present an economical country. It has little religious friction, and would be attractive to retiring ‘British’ Indians, who have done well in the UK.

Postscript –  It can be argued that it is in the interest of the British economy to encourage the pensioners to retire abroad (q.v. 3 above).  It is unfortunate that the Government puts difficulties in their way with regard to investing in British enterprises, and financial institutions. Many (especially in the EU) buy goods from the UK.

The figures are all derived from published Government Statistics on the State pension.

Pensioners on the Move

To go to the start and the index - click here

More and more UK pensioners are now moving abroad yet remain dependent on the UK for their pensions and savings.  Many have pensions and other income taxed in the UK. Large numbers also have close family and other cultural links.  Most are British Citizens [but not all!] The question that becomes ever more insistent is Do they have a right to bring pressure on the ‘home’ government?  Are they justified in bringing the British Government to account?

Let’s look at the statistics.  As an example - In 1973 when Britain joined the EU there were only 2200 British State Pensioners resident in France.  Today the number is 56,930. 

The following table gives a current world wide view of this emigration. To date there are 1,197,690 UK State pensioners resident abroad.

It is presented to stimulate the debate on Representation. You are invited to consider the motivations for the movements and also to consider the interest the pensioners might retain in Britain.
1. Economics -2 Family connections 3. Cultural background 

To enlarge - click on the table - to return press 'esc'.

 Data is derived from the Government web site as follows – (various dates are accessible)   

http://83.244.183.180/100pc/sp/cccountry/cnage/a_carate_r_cccountry_c_cnage_feb12.html

Europe is shaded in a block.  Minus figures are in red.  In each column– the highest figure is shaded yellow.

In the *starred* countries, pensioners have pensions which increase with inflation.  

Un-starred countries have frozen pensions .

The countries are selected largely by size of pensioner population but some others because of other interesting features.

There are three broad reasons (which certainly have not the same strength everywhere) why many Pensioners have a moral  Right to Representation to the British Government, and in reverse for the British Government to have the moral responsibility to respect them as proud British citizens which most wish to be.

1. Household Economy

2. Family involvement  

and 3. Cultural History

***********************************

UPDATE (Jan 30th 2013)  On October 23^rd 2012 a debate took place in the House of Lords which considered the Lifetime Representation of the Briton Abroad -i.e. the removal of the current 15 year time limit on Representation. 
Lord Lexden introduced An amendment to the Electoral Registration Bill.  Previously in The Commons Mr. Clifton-Brown MP had done the same.  Both times the amendments were withdrawn under pressure from Government spokesmen.  Once again in the Lords (Report Stage) Lord Lexden introduced an amendment and again withdrew it with the agreement to chair an all-party committee on the issue. That is the situation at the end of January 2013.

It is important to influence the Politicians and support those who have the interest of the Briton Abroad at heart. Truly - Democracy is at stake here.

To locate their email addresses so that you can write to them  look at…….

http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/

The Extraordinary thoughts of Mr. Clegg

To go to the index and beginning click here

An assistant to Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party wrote on April 25^th this year (2012)

“Nick appreciates that there are some British expatriates who have lived abroad for over 15 years and who want to vote in British elections. However, as you may know, Nick supports the existing legislation on this issue, including the removal of the right to vote after 15 years of living abroad. If a Briton has settled in another country, it is intuitive that they would know about and be directly affected by the issues of that country. If they want to become politically active, then they should register to vote in the country they have settled in.”

It is easy to pick holes in this statement.  To vote in another country means taking out the nationality of that country and in some cases thereby renouncing British citizenship.  Is Mr Clegg suggesting that British patriots should become less British?  Let us quietly reflect on these thoughts, in Europe and throughout the World.

In 1973 Britain joined the European club, which perhaps should be more appropriately labelled the European Association of Nations, rather than the European Union!  Since then there has been a tardiness in the evolution of the British domestic fiscal and political regulations supporting the tenets of this Association.  They tend to be fossilised in a fashion which would be considered more appropriate to the early 20^th century, before the second World War than to the current age.  The regulations within the ‘Association’, which stem from the EU and have been adopted (it would appear rather grudgingly) by the British Government, enable Britons to survive on the continent. I and others could not live in France if these arrangements collapsed.  Further, I and others hold dear our families and friends resident in the United Kingdom with whom we communicate on an almost daily basis.  Whatever happens to the NHS, education services, the police and passport controls and of course the management of the finances, on which I and all British pensioners depend wherever we live in the world,  most certainly affects me and mine, just as much as if I still lived in Gloucestershire!   Of course such links vary according to the individual, but all British citizens are always linked in some measure to the triple countries of Britain and Northern Ireland, whether they live in Normandy or New Zealand.

The world has become (as they say) a global village.  Europe is changing into an association of States, none of which can stand alone. EU regulations affect us all- if at times imperfectly implemented.  Everything in the 21^st century world is connected. Particularly in Europe we have a network of  nations – held together by the webs formed  of  its citizens and communicating (hopefully) with the Governments of  their Nation States.

*****

Politicians often use phrases  such as ‘It is good for Britain that’.. ‘It is in the interest of Britain that’  …   What, one must ask, is this ‘Britain’ of which they speak? It is clear that they are not  thinking of the geographical entity of hills, and rivers.  They are considering the welfare of the citizens.  Are the only British citizens of concern to the Government, those who reside amongst the hills and valleys and the towns and villages of the United Kingdom?   Is Mr. Clegg prepared to answer ‘yes’ to that question?  Or will a shadow of guilt pass across his mind.  Is the Citizen Abroad of little value? Is the answer from Mr. Clegg – ‘quite so’?

If all the Citizens of Britain disappeared, then so would the Nation of Britain.  The Citizens ARE Britain.  The ‘good’, the ‘interests’ of Britain, is and are, those of the British Citizens.

Why does a Government exist?  Does it exist for the sole benefit of the members of the Government?  No. That is dictatorship.  It exists for the benefit of the Citizens.  All citizens!  There cannot be a ranking of, ‘they are all equal but some are more equal than others’.

A Government exists to serve the Citizens,

The Citizens do not exist to serve the Government.

The policies of any Government must ensure the welfare of the Citizens wherever they may be living, at home or abroad. Not just those who are resident within the geographical State.

In the global village or more narrowly, the Association of Europe,  the British Nation is widespread and British influence is spread by these very same Citizens. 

Every British Citizen epitomises British culture.  Their attitudes, the way they think, and act, appear to their host country neighbours as a reflection of the British way of doing things.

The good (or evil) that they do, affects the image of all British citizens, and thereby the image of this entity called ‘Britain’.

For the good of all Britons, at home or abroad, would it not seem sensible, imperative even, to engender a feeling of mutual support between them, of affection one with another.

As things are now, we have British citizens abroad denigrating the British Government, despairing at the blindness of British politicians and the civil servants.  They despair at the tepidness of respect for their efforts in promoting British business or culture.

Would it not engender pride and mutual loyalty to be warmly recognised?   The sense of pride is of huge importance.  The notion that one is no longer to be considered a full citizen – for that is the effect of the law - after fifteen years - is insulting.

The answer is Representation in one form or another at Westminster.

Perhaps the House of Lords could accept elected members from the wider world of British Citizens.  Most expatriates are desirous to be patriots and not ex-patriots.

**************

A full exposition of my arguments on the matter of Representation of Britons Abroad can be viewed here:-

www.lefourquet.net/Voting-finalversion.html

***********

**Please view also www.votes-for-expat-brits.com (More in depth analysis of the position of Britons Abroad and voting/Representation). ***
You can leave comments on that site or this one (see the link below).

Author ---  Brian Cave

Email addresses for Mr. Clegg are:-

nick.clegg.mp@parliament.uk

correspondence+id14892@libdems.zendesk.com

I Accuse

To go to the beginning and index  click here

 (Update 2013 - This article was written in 2012 - The winter of 2012/13 was much the same with an average minimum temperature of 1.8 degrees near Cahors, with some nights to minus 5. Yet the British Government claim that we are warmer than Torquay.)

The terrible weather which came to us in France last February; was it so unusual?  Some elderly Britons in particular who retired to the Continent suffered.  But were they worse off than those who stayed in Britain?  Is the winter climate at its worst, worse than any in Britain?  The answer is, ‘yes’. 

The conditions of last February brings to mind the novel ‘Jacquou le Croquant’.  It opens in the setting of a terrible winter of the early 19^th century when people died of cold in their hovels.  The snow lay deep and the wolves bayed in the Dordogne countryside as even then, [at that time even], after Napoleon and after the French Revolution, the peasants were as ill treated as before.  It was as though nothing had changed and the peasants still had to fight against the tyranny of the landed gentry. Plus ça change, la plus c’est la même chose! The Government was stubborn, and the winter was Siberian as it was this last winter.

Should the British Government have any concern for British Citizens Abroad? Yes of course.  For those who live in Europe the principle of ‘freedom of movement’ should prevail.  But the British Government resists supporting the retired Briton Abroad.  And some are in consequence deficient in funds.

My thoughts turn to another French author, Zola. He felt deeply for those unfairly treated.  In January 1898 it was he who threw down the two words ‘J’accuse’ in the journal Aurore when he challenged the French Government over the case of Dreyfus, a Jewish soldier who was unfairly convicted of treason.  Zola brought shame to the Government for its stubbornness and ill thinking .

Governments and tyrannies will not change unless they are forced to do so.  We fondly imagine that we live in a democratic and reasoning society in Western Europe. It is more fondly felt than fact. Democracy does not exist for the Britons Abroad.  The British Government denies it to them.

Times may not be as harsh as in the 19^th century but elements of crass stupidity and deafness to the needs of the people are still with us.  These are matters to which we who live in Europe should attend.  The British Government, which we all would like to perceive as a bastion of democracy, is as stubborn and as deaf as any.

It is deaf to the cries of the Britons Abroad that they should be recognised.  It is deaf to the cries of the elderly Briton Abroad  that their needs should be recognised.

Let me borrow the words of Zola. I accuse the British Government of indifference towards its citizens abroad.   How truly difficult it is for any such citizen to stand up for himself.  How difficult it is for the citizen who is eighty five years old.  How impossible when the citizen is cold and deficient in funds. How difficult it is when opinions of Britons at home are manipulated by the media  against him. 

In the eyes of many in Britain today, the Briton who dares to live abroad is dishonoured at home.  We have Lord Lipsey who dares to say that the Briton Abroad should never be represented in Parliament.  We have governments who sign to treaties in Europe which guarantee that the elderly Briton who retires to Europe will receive the same consideration from the British Government as those who remain at home.  But in the outcome, they are deprived of income and support which those who stay at home might enjoy.  The winter fuel payment which all the elderly enjoy in Britain has not been received by the most elderly of  the British Citizens in Europe.  It was first introduced as a supplement for the elderly but it was refused to those who had retired abroad.  The Pensioner in Europe cannot make his feelings felt through the ballot box because the government has not granted to him the permanent citizen’s right to vote.

Lord Lipsey again says that such pensioners have no part to play in the economy of Britain.  Yet their pensions and much of their expenditure is demonstrably part of the British Economy.  The same British Economy prevents these pensioners opening bank accounts in Britain.  The attitude against the pensioners is further hardened by articles in the press illustrating the pensioners sunning themselves on the sunny summer shores of Spain.  In Barcelona it was minus 7 overnight this February. Most of Europe  freezes every winter, this year worse than is usual.  In Central Italy eighty centimetres of snow fell.  In Central France in February 2012 we suffered the same climate that Jacquou suffered in 1815.

The summer sun does not allay the winter's frosts.   
Successive nights last February brought temperatures of minus ten.  Numbers of British elderly residents suffered from shortage of cash, frozen pipes and a cold heartless Government, too mean to care for its elderly citizens – too mean to even grant them the natural rights of any citizen.  It is too mean to grant them a voice.

This stubbornness of the British Government is felt across the world.  Imagine the elderly couple whose children have set up home in distant Australia.  The parents would like to join them in their last few decades of life.  They are deterred because the British Government would freeze their State pensions and as the years roll by they would become poorer and poorer. 

The cold heart of Britain’s Governments is felt most severely by those who have given so much for Britain in their working lives and still remain ambassadors for British grit and determination, without the support of their Nation’s Government.

On the Matter of Frozen Pensions

To go the Index click here

An article appeared in The Telegraph on  December 1^st 2011by Leah Hyslop.

It is on the absurdity of the State (Old Age) pensions being frozen when paid to people who have retired abroad,  mostly to commonwealth countries.

Curiously, the issue was raised by the Runnymede Trust which is a think-tank on race relations. To discover more  - raise this link.

The Telegraph.....Think-tank-slams-frozen-pensions-policy

Before you switch off and say ‘This has nothing to do with me!’ stop and ponder.

1   It is fascinating that the matter of the Frozen Pensions is raised via particular concern for the Asian and West African people who immigrated to Britain to seek work up to forty years ago and who wish to retire back to the country of their birth. 

In contrast, any sympathy for the retired Britons descended ancestrally from resident British stock has not up to now achieved anything at all!   If the Runnymede Trust can achieve progress – then let us praise them.  But is it not a curious development?  But the Runnymede Trust is an influential body and it may well yield results where others have failed.

2   The major slant I draw on this is the power that comes through having a Voice.

The Runnymede  Trust is a respected body and possibly the Government will listen.

If only the Expatriates would rise up as a body and declare ‘We Want a Voice’,

Then the expatriates of all colours and creeds might achieve something. 

‘We Want a Voice’    can be interpreted as

‘We want Representation’   which can in turn be interpreted as

‘We want the Vote’ – for LIFE.

If the expatriates could somehow exercise pressure on the British Government, if only!

But they never will unless they stand together, and stand up for justice.

Read and sign  www.votes-for-expat-brits.com

Expatriates Frozen.

 Frozen in Canada.   A Story of Our British Country Folk.     How you can help.

Many years ago I stood near the bridge which separates the USA from Canada and I admired the magnificence of the Niagara  Falls.  No doubt today there are British pensioners  living on both sides of that Bridge, but they would be foolish indeed to live in Canada, because their State Retirement pension would be frozen at the level at which they emigrated.  But, perhaps one such elderly couple is there because their daughter had moved there years before. She and her family have a large Canadian house and she feels more able than her brother still living in Woking, England, to care for her parents.
Their son and his family in England, have a small modern house scarcely 18 feet wide on a Wimpey estate and with their own children to care for, there is not the space for his parents.   The parents are concerned for his welfare and the education of  their grandchildren and all the social welfare system of the UK.

So!   What has this story to do with you?  Two elements - firstly  the  situation of  the representation to Parliament of the elderly couple who will have powerful links for the rest of their lives with the social systems of Britain, and secondly the gross unfairness of their frozen pensions just because they need to live in Canada, rather than the USA, or stayed in Britain.

In both matters they are  unfairly treated by the Government of their homeland.  After 15 years they have no representation in England,  although they remain deeply concerned about the welfare of their son and his family, and they remain dependent for their State pensions on Britain, and the husband's police pension and its taxation, for he served in the police force in Guildford.
So in 2011 these grandparents are concerned - you bet! of course they are!
So they add their names to two petitions.  One on their frozen vote and the other on their frozen pension.  If they had the vote they may influence the pension!

http://votes-for-expat-brits.com.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/16387

They are British Citizens.  In spite of all the knocks which their own British Government direct at them, they remain proud to be British.  They come from families of humble origins*, but with guts and courage have survived the vicissitudes of the past 80 years and their children have tried in spirit to follow in their footsteps. 

*their parents supported Labour!

Australia.   I read of a retired engineer there aged 81, whose Old Age Pension is only £18 a week, because it is frozen.  Those expatriates who live in Australia have signed in their hundreds both of the petitions. This week the number of British Pensioners outside the EU (particularly in Australia) who have signed the petition on the frozen vote exceeds those pensioners in Europe who have signed the same petition. 

So what does all this mean to you?     In the cause of British solidarity, just as the Australians (one hopes that the Canadians will follow suit) have voted to thaw both the frozen vote and the frozen pensions, so all Britons everywhere should support both causes. 
Please sign up on both petitions.   And copy this on to other British pensioners, expatriates and indeed those remaining in our homeland.

Other Information.  You may wish to write to a British MP - You can find a list and thus their email addresses via the following link
http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/
It is believed that the LibDems are against extending the 15 year vote, but are for unfreezing pensions. They are a major influence in the Coalition Government.
The Conservatives seem to be for unfreezing the vote but possibly against unfreezing the pensions.  There is no indication of Labour leanings, but they can surely be influenced?  Leaders are - LibDems - Nick Clegg;  Labour - Ed Miliband; Conservatives - David Cameron.

Brian Cave - organiser

Pensioners-Broken Faith

The article below  [written by one of the readers of this blog]  reflects on the steely lack of compassion, understanding and honour amongst those who formulate rules in Whitehall. It should not be necessary for the very elderly to fight for what is, to any logical mind, obvious justice.

'The King's Speech’ War Veterans and The Big Society

by Dr.Sylvia Moore, 19 March 2011

A bound edition of the book ‘Broken Faith’ was delivered to Downing Street on 16 December 2010 by the International Consortium of British Pensioners, (ICPB) where it was presented to Pensions Minister Stephen Webb.

In ‘Broken Faith’ 104 war veterans who served across the globe in defence of His Majesty’s Government describe their service records. Yet, because they live abroad in countries where their pensions are frozen, they are among the half million pensioners denied their right to a basic state pension. The veterans were ready to return their service medals such was their feelings of betrayal. They were the men and women who responded to George VI’s famous speech broadcast on 3 September 1939, rallying British citizens at home and overseas to meet the challenge to preserve justice, peace and liberty in the face of ‘the primitive doctrine that might is right which would keep the people of the world in the bondage of fear’.

‘The King’s Speech’ was the centre piece of the recent award winning film, a budget blockbuster hitting big times with 7 Bafta awards followed by Oscar awards on 28 February 2011 for best actor, best film, best director best screenplay, but what about best war veterans alive today living in the King’s former dominions and elsewhere overseas?

Like them, best actor Colin Firth playing George VI, is a global citizen supporting many worthy causes - Survival International, fair immigration policies, eco industries; and he set up a film and political activism website, Brightwide.com along with his Italian wife film director Livia Giuggioli. His grandparents were missionaries in Asia, his parents brought up in India, his father taught history in Nigeria where Colin lived as child and he dreamed of going to the North Pole. His grandmother’s precise pre-war English diction helped him in his role to utter precisely George VI’s speech :

‘In this grave hour, perhaps the most fateful in our history, I send to every household of my peoples both at home and overseas this message spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself…..For the sake of all that we hold dear; the hope of peace, justice and liberty, it is unthinkable that we should refuse to meet the challenge. It is to this high purpose that I now call my people at home and my people across the seas who will make our cause their own…. ready for whatever service or sacrifice it may demand.’

Just after the Oscar awards, David Cameron relaunched his Big Society on 1 March at Somerset House, London, saying that it was not a cover up for cuts though they had to be made across board. The Big Society was a new approach to further inclusive social and economic recovery whether ‘public spending was up, flat or down’. It would involve civil society organisations, more decentralisation, and more autonomy in partnership with the state to bring real power and entrepreneurship to the social sector. Will Mr Cameron include the war veterans in the Big Society and cross their thresholds with the same depth of feeling as George VI to give them back ‘all that we hold dear’? He would surely commend them as the ‘bravest of the brave’, as he said of the armed forces he sent off today to set up the no fly zone across Libya.

See p 2 ‘A veteran’s experience at Downing Street – Reflections on the Medals Campaign’

by Bernard Jackson published in JUSTICE for Expatriate British Pensioners Issue 1, 2011

For further information visit www.BritishPensions.com and contact John Markham, International Consortium of British Pensioners Director UK Parliamentary Affairs jmarkham@sympatico.ca

To return to the INDEX and beginning click here.