The UK is Wrong to stop me voting

Within the last  few days (May 7th 2015) I have received copies of complaints from people about the non-reception of voting papers from as far apart as California, Massachusetts,  Norway,  and of course France and Spain.  The forum site SFN is loaded with more.  Why do people want to vote? The passion to do so is clear.  Yet so many politicians in the UK and so many residents there say ‘You have left the country – you don’t deserve to vote.’

A number of those who write to me are young and clearly intelligent.  They have the desire to see that Britain is a country of which they can be proud.  Oddly that archaic institution, The Royal Family, is the focus of so much of this pride.  At a dinner of expats the other day, most of whom could not vote because like me we left the UK over 15 years ago, the meal was interrupted with the cry ‘It’s a girl!’ and glasses were raised to Kate and her baby.  Why cannot the idiots at home realise that we, the citizens abroad, are all ambassadors of the British Nation!  It is we who foster the good will of the country. The ‘country?’ whatever that is – arises from the stupid confusion in the use of words.  We are not a country – hills and towns, a little offshore set of islands.  We are a Nation - a people of a common culture.  Just as the French are a Nation with a shared culture. And as the French passionately hold onto that culture wherever they live so do the British.  Whatever a Nation’s Government does in the world affects each and every citizen.  The Government acts in the name of ALL the citizens.  We are today no longer ‘subjects’ of that Royal Institution that we so much respect but ‘citizens’ with a shared interest in the welfare of  us all. 

Naturally, many of us have material interests for why citizens abroad want a say in the development of the UK.  All of us, young and retired, may wish or need to return.  We need a sound NHS and all the social support systems to be good.  For many, our income is based in the UK. Many are taxed in the UK. Most of us, of all ages, have family at ‘home’ and we have a care for them, for their welfare and education. Our lives depend on treaties between the States – A BREXIT could be a disaster.

For all these reasons we desire the vote.  But do you get the impression, as I do, that most Parties seek power for their own interest rather than the interest of the voter?

I hope that is a false impression, we need the Party in power to act with thoughts for the citizens everywhere. Yet have you heard any of them during this campaign utter a word of concern for the Citizen abroad? – We may be expatriates (out of the homeland), but by no means are we ex-patriots.

Brian Cave, a leading campaigner in the team for UK expat rights whose website is www.votes-for-expat-brits.com, explains why it is important to him to be able to vote even though he has lived abroad for many years

WITHIN the last few days I have received copies of complaints from people about the non-reception of voting papers from as far apart as California, Massachusetts, Norway and, of course, France and Spain.

The Connexion and expat forums have had even more.

So, why do people who no longer live in the UK still want to vote? The passion to do so is clear. Yet so many politicians in the UK and so many residents there say “You have left the country – you don’t deserve to vote.”

A number of those who write to me are young and clearly intelligent. They have the desire to see that Britain is a country of which they can be proud. Oddly, that archaic institution the Royal Family is the focus of so much of this pride.

At a recent dinner of expats, most of whom could not vote because like me we left the UK over 15 years ago, the meal was interrupted with the cry ‘It’s a girl!’ and glasses were raised to Kate and her baby.

Why cannot those at home realise that we, the citizens abroad, are all ambassadors of the British nation? It is we who foster the goodwill of the country.

The ‘country?’ - whatever that is. We are not a country – hills and towns, a little offshore set of islands. We are a nation - a people of a common culture. Just as the French are a nation with a shared culture. And as the French passionately hold on to that culture wherever they live so do the British.

Whatever a nation’s government does in the world affects each and every citizen. The government acts in the name of ALL the citizens.

We are today no longer ‘subjects’ of that Royal Institution that we so much respect but ‘citizens’ with a shared interest in the welfare of us all.

Naturally, many of us have material interests as to why citizens abroad want a say in the development of the UK. All of us, young and retired, may wish or need to return.

We need a sound NHS and for all the social support systems to be good. For many, our income is based in the UK. Many are taxed in the UK.

Most of us, of all ages, have family at ‘home’ and we care for them, for their welfare and education. Our lives depend on treaties between the States – a BREXIT could be a disaster.

For all these reasons we desire the vote. But do you get the impression, as I do, that most parties seek power for their own interest rather than the interest of the voter?

I hope that is a false impression, we need the party in power to act with thoughts for the citizens everywhere.

Yet have you heard any of them during this campaign utter a word of concern for the citizen abroad?

We may be expatriates (‘out of the homeland’), but by no means are we ex-patriots.
- See more at: http://www.connexionfrance.com/campaigner-Brian-Cave-expat-rights-vote-election-16926-view-article.html#sthash.Ebi4IyaW.dpuf

Brian Cave, a leading campaigner in the team for UK expat rights whose website is www.votes-for-expat-brits.com, explains why it is important to him to be able to vote even though he has lived abroad for many years

WITHIN the last few days I have received copies of complaints from people about the non-reception of voting papers from as far apart as California, Massachusetts, Norway and, of course, France and Spain.

The Connexion and expat forums have had even more.

So, why do people who no longer live in the UK still want to vote? The passion to do so is clear. Yet so many politicians in the UK and so many residents there say “You have left the country – you don’t deserve to vote.”

A number of those who write to me are young and clearly intelligent. They have the desire to see that Britain is a country of which they can be proud. Oddly, that archaic institution the Royal Family is the focus of so much of this pride.

At a recent dinner of expats, most of whom could not vote because like me we left the UK over 15 years ago, the meal was interrupted with the cry ‘It’s a girl!’ and glasses were raised to Kate and her baby.

Why cannot those at home realise that we, the citizens abroad, are all ambassadors of the British nation? It is we who foster the goodwill of the country.

The ‘country?’ - whatever that is. We are not a country – hills and towns, a little offshore set of islands. We are a nation - a people of a common culture. Just as the French are a nation with a shared culture. And as the French passionately hold on to that culture wherever they live so do the British.

Whatever a nation’s government does in the world affects each and every citizen. The government acts in the name of ALL the citizens.

We are today no longer ‘subjects’ of that Royal Institution that we so much respect but ‘citizens’ with a shared interest in the welfare of us all.

Naturally, many of us have material interests as to why citizens abroad want a say in the development of the UK. All of us, young and retired, may wish or need to return.

We need a sound NHS and for all the social support systems to be good. For many, our income is based in the UK. Many are taxed in the UK.

Most of us, of all ages, have family at ‘home’ and we care for them, for their welfare and education. Our lives depend on treaties between the States – a BREXIT could be a disaster.

For all these reasons we desire the vote. But do you get the impression, as I do, that most parties seek power for their own interest rather than the interest of the voter?

I hope that is a false impression, we need the party in power to act with thoughts for the citizens everywhere.

Yet have you heard any of them during this campaign utter a word of concern for the citizen abroad?

We may be expatriates (‘out of the homeland’), but by no means are we ex-patriots.
- See more at: http://www.connexionfrance.com/campaigner-Brian-Cave-expat-rights-vote-election-16926-view-article.html#sthash.Ebi4IyaW.dpuf

Messages to Citizens Abroad on the May election from the United Kingdom Political Parties.

To go to the start click here

Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, The Green Party and the UK Independence Party (UKIP)

Over the month of February (2015) all five Nation-wide Parties have been requested to State their policy towards Expatriates.
This request has been made four times by the Campaign for Votes for Expatriates and several times (by phone and email) by the journal The Connexion.
The third time of asking was elaborated and is HERE attached to this mailing - It states reasons why Citizens Abroad should have political representation. 
The fourth time of asking was more abrupt.
The Conservative Party replied at the first request to both The Campaign and The Connexion. Three others replied later to The Campaign. The messages are given below in order of their reception.
The Liberal-Democratic Party has not replied.
All the four who replied were sent a draft of this mail so that, if they wished, they could modify their message
Email addresses of the authors of the replies are given below to three of the messages. You may wish to comment or question further. If so, you can respond to them.
The sender of this mail is only relaying these messages and offers no opinion on their content.
    Please recirculate to your own groups and of course friends and relatives in the UK.

************************-------**************************

Messages from the Parties

CONSERVATIVES

The Conservative Party is making a manifesto commitment to protect the civic rights of British citizens living overseas. Millions of British Citizens live and work across the globe. Many have worked hard and contributed to Britain all their lives, continue to pay tax in the UK and have close family living in Britain.

Like many other countries, the UK continues to protect British citizens living abroad with its military, Embassy network, and passport and other services. However, Britain currently restricts the rights of these citizens to vote in General Elections. The last Labour Government reduced the amount of time that British citizens living overseas were entitled to register to vote in UK General Elections to just 15 years. This is just one of many mistakes that they made.   

If the Conservative Party wins the next General Election, we will remove this cap and extend it to a full right as a British Citizen to vote in British elections for life.

Authorship email Mitchell Cohen ----   Mitchell.Cohen@conservatives.com

United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP)

We believe passionately everyone should exercise their democratic right to vote, including expats who still cherish their fundamental ties with Britain.

Issues that UKIP passionately champions are equally relevant overseas. None more so than the EU. Some 70% of UK law, and no doubt the proportion of legislation made in other EU countries where expats may live, is now made by Brussels, by unelected bureaucrats. Our democracy and that of the 27 other member states, has been seriously compromised by EU membership and by a power hungry elite who are more interested in expansionism than serving the people. The economies of many Eurozone countries are in a catastrophic mess, with rising unemployment, plummeting house prices and increasing discontent among a disenfranchised public.

People often raise the argument that if the UK pulled out of the EU, many expats living abroad would be forced to return or would be cut off, without support. How ridiculous! British expats by and large take business abroad, they move abroad with money, or they retire somewhere with better weather. They are rarely competing with the country's young people for work, or emigrate for more favourable welfare benefits. Equally a vast number of expats are in Australia, which has never been part of the EU.

UKIP actually wants a new, changed and better Britain, which is forward looking and global in attitude. Not shackled to an outdated and failing economic and political project from the 1950s that has done more to damage the economy, our democracy and the global reach of the country. Any Brit, wherever they live, that believes in Britain, should back UKIP as the real party for the future.

Authorship email  Alexandra Phillips ----- a.phillips@ukip.org

The GREEN PARTY
“We are actively considering a commitment that all pensioners living abroad receive the same pension and annual pension increase as those living in the UK.”

“We will release further details in our General Election manifesto”.

Authorship:-  the Green party representative  declined to accept mails on this issue.

THE LABOUR PARTY

As you know, British expats who have been resident and registered to vote in the fifteen years prior to an election are eligible to vote in elections for the UK Parliament and the European Parliament as long as they are registered as an overseas voter.

We appreciate that there have been calls for this 15-year rule to be relaxed or abolished in Britain and that this is supported by some expats who are currently unable to vote in UK elections or are at risk of losing their right to vote in upcoming elections. We also recognise that a number of other countries do allow permanent voting rights for expats.

The voting rights of British citizens is, of course, an extremely important issue and we agree this should be looked at carefully. As you say in your letter, a Ten Minute Rule Bill - the UK Overseas Voters (15 Year Rule) Bill - has been introduced to Parliament and proposes to legislate for permanent voting rights for British expats. The Bill is now scheduled to receive its Second Reading in the House of Commons on 6th March.

Labour hopes this Bill will provide an opportunity for the House of Commons to debate this issue and consider the merits and demerits of the current 15-year rule.

We also believe we need to do more to encourage all citizens - expats and those registered in the UK - to register to vote. It is welcome that the Electoral Commission has set a target of getting 100,000 more overseas voters registered before the next General Election. The introduction of online registration also means it is now easier than ever for Brits abroad to register to vote. It remains important, though, that the Government continue to look into other ways of engaging British citizens abroad to register and participate in elections.

Authorship email  A Williams office of Ed Miliband, ed.miliband.mp@parliament.uk

 The LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY

No reply has been received from the Liberal-Democrats. 

 ------------------
Postscripts.
1,  On the 6th March (2015) Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP is launching in Parliament the second reading of his 10 minute Bill to remove the 15 year limit on Voting by Overseas Citizens. (Overseas Voters 15 year rule Bill) to view go here ---    http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Live.aspx
2. To Register to vote go here     https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Brian Cave

Overseas Voting - Take ACTION!

Click here to go to the index.

Removal of the 15 limit on Registering to vote for British Elections.

It is important that you take action – see below

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, MP for The Cotswolds is tabling a 10-minute Bill with the above objective on Tuesday December 2^nd 2.45 p.m. House of Commons.  He will be supported by Sir Roger Gale and others.

In advance, on December 1^st (room W1 House of Commons) there will be a press conference attended by Harry Shindler MBE, who expects to speak.

The House is normally fairly well attended on a Tuesday but we must try to assure that as many MPs are there as possible.

It would be a highly significant milestone if this presentation were to result in a change of law but it is also a necessary step in testing the opinion of MPs from all the major parties. 

The 15 limit on voting for expatriates is a huge deterrent to registering to vote.

The fact that very few expats register to vote is a huge deterrent to politicians to pass a bill removing the limit -
   A classic chicken and egg situation.

Yet it costs nothing in labour, commitment, money to remove it – why is it not done? 

TAKE ACTION please to ensure a good attendance of MPs.

1.  Select email addresses of your ex-constituency MP from here     http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/

2.  Send this message to him/her/them. 

Encourage Overseas Voting    On Tuesday December 2^nd Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, MP for The Cotswolds is tabling a 10-minute Bill with the above objective on at  2.30 p.m. House of Commons.  He will be supported by Sir Roger Gale and others. 

Please attend the House and support the removal of the 15 year limit on voting by British Citizens Abroad.

This limit is a massive deterrent to registration to vote. 

The removal will send a message of goodwill to the citizens abroad from the British Parliament – and reassure the citizens abroad that they are valued.

Take action 2. Persuade Friends and Relatives in the UK to send this  to their MPs.

The ten-minute rule Bills are one of the ways in which backbench MPs (private Members) can introduce legislation. However, the process is used more as a means of making a point on the need to change the law on a particular subject as there is little parliamentary time available. They mainly provide the opportunity for MPs to test Parliament's opinion on a particular subject.

The ten minute rule allows a brief introductory speech of no more than ten minutes and one of the same length opposing the motion to be made in the House of Commons after question time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the House is likely to be full. Not all Ten Minute Rule Bills are printed.

To register to vote go to.. https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Voting in a French Village

 Voting for the local Council - Where Citizens are respected.

Posters for the two parties March 23rd 2014

A cold day for the end of March.  Snow fell to the south of us, towards the Pyrenees. It was five degrees at St. Romain.  My wife and I drove down to the polling station at 8.30 in the morning.  We were not the first,

But the welcome was warm.  The 'tellers' knew who we were for as English people we are well known. But we met friends and our neighbours there.  

We really felt warmed by the reception.  We felt as though we were truly part of the community.  We had something in common, the same cause for the benefit and progress of the place where we live.

One could choose one of two lists of candidates.  There was the Socialists - La Gauche.  and then the other which was more interesting.  That list was a coalition of  citizens who had come together to consider the problems of the town.  The was  no party affiliation amongst them.  They were brought together in a common cause. Citizens together.

When I asked if I could take a photo, the welcome was so warm.  

One may discern the numbers of voting envelopes already in the box so early in the morning, perhaps there were about twenty.

The system is different from in England. One votes for a List not for an individual. Each list has about twenty names of hopeful councilors. This is quite a large number but our town of Gourdon is quite large for rural France - perhaps about 5,000 voters in all.   St Romain is just one hamlet of the town. 

The two lists are printed on separate sheets of paper. You take one of the sheets and you place it in a special envelope.  This in then placed in the polling box, the lid of which is controlled by one of the tellers.

My reason for recounting all this is the contrast I feel for the voting and political representation  I have with my own National Government of the United Kingdom.  As an European citizen I can vote in France for the council of the local commune but for no other body.  I have no vote for any National Government.

The French wherever they live from Pole to Pole have representation in the National Assembly in Paris. All French citizens are valued  anywhere in the World. No so the British - no way - no how.  Although I cannot avoid a close association with Britain, culturally, socially and through my family connections, and financially, for all my income comes from Britain and I am still taxed there,  I cannot have any political representation at all with that Government, and this disconnect hurts me deeply.

The British Government has to be classed as one of the most non-democratic in Europe.  Isn't that sad?

Britons Abroad in Europe meet with Mme Viviane Reding, a Vice President of the EU

Brussels 5^th September 2013

A delegation of Britons Abroad meet with Mme Viviane Reding, Vice President of the European Union and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.
The list of all the participants representing all political persuasions, other interests, and the EU commission can be viewed here.

A personal view of the meeting.

 Right -Mme Reding exchanges views with Harry

 Shindler and Sir Roger Gale

Mme Reding holds in her hand the booklet “EU Citizenship Report 2013 

You can read this document by going to the following link ----

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/reding/factsheets/citizenship-report

Fourteen Britons from France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and London (they included representatives of all three political persuasions along with other interest groups) met with Mme Reding and four EU Commission officials at the Commission offices in Brussels. A Greek citizen was there as an observer and we had a supporting communication from an Irish expatriate group.

Sir Roger Gale MP led our delegation. Harry Shindler, the 92 year old initiator of this meeting encouraged us to meet him to back his demand for his vote to be given back to him by the British Government. Sir Roger exposed the situation that the Briton abroad had the vote taken away after 15 years and asked that the Commission might intervene with the British Government.  The response from Mme Reding was that this would infringe the British subsidiarity clauses in this field

When Mme Redding moved on to another engagement, her Deputy Head of Cabinet, Mme Viviane Hoffman remained with the other officials and we sat round the large oval table in the cabinet room.  Outside in the streets of Brussels the temperature was 33 degrees.  Inside the debate was measured.  .

Harry was disappointed with the Commissioners problem with subsidiarity especailly since later the subject of the Referendum was raised and again the issue of subsidiarity  checked the debate.  That the majority of Britons abroad in the EU may not vote in a referendum which is fundamental to their welfare is an appalling malfunction in any democracy.

Yet as the debate developed I became more and more pleased.  The spirit of the EU was running with us.

Mme Hoffman seen left with Harry Shindler made it abundantly clear that the EU Commission was delighted to have this delegation there.  She use the phrase “honoured that Mr. Shindler” should come to Brussels.  It could not have been more plain. 

This discussion from the start entered the  European sphere – Why else were we there? 

Eight nations of the twenty eight States in the full European Union plus the extra EAA members do not give full democratic rights to their nationals in the rest of Europe.  Britain, Ireland and Denmark are the three significant larger States with this situation

It became increasingly apparent to me that our British  delegation was most important. 

Is the message –‘Britain needs to show the way forward in the matter of Democracy in Europe’ Where Britain goes the others will follow.‘?

This seemed to be a seminal moment.

My time came to speak.

I watched the four people team of the Commission

as I spoke.

“What is a Nation?” I rhetorically asked.   It is the people, not the physical geography of the towns, hills and rivers.  I held my hands like cups to each side and said ‘Democracy is a two way process. On the right the citizens look to the national Government for support and help. On the left the Government should be proactive and look towards the citizens in the European countries to see how they are faring. The British Government does not’.  I saw the two men of the EU commission pick up their pencils almost simultaneously and write. I was surprised and pleased.

We need to be proud of our National Government as the Government needs to show pride in the Briton Abroad.

I spoke of the confused nonsense that can arise from muddled Double Taxation agreements, drawing attention as an example to the varying position of Nurses pensions in Germany (taxed in the UK) and France (not so).  The pencils again moved.  

The meeting drew to a close and perhaps cheekily, I jumped in with a sentence relating to an earlier plea of Harry Shindler’s on the same theme which marks and honours his lifetime endeavours.  “On March 3^rd 1944 whilst Harry was fighting at Anzio, the house I lived in was blasted by a stick of German bombs. Let us hope that on May 8^th 2014 [Victory in Europe day] we can, as Harry desires, celebrate our victory in this cause with the Churchillian V sign”.

(Author Brian Cave – lefourquet@orange.fr)

add your signature to --- http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43238

and comment on www.votes-for-expat-brits.com

Please circulate to accumulate – Britons Abroad must unite.

The Winter Fuel Payment and why you must have the Vote

The justifiable fuss over the Winter Fuel Payment arises because the British Citizen in EUROPE has no vote!  Yes? or No?
[By no 'vote' is indicated no adequate democratic voice- The needs of the British Citizens  in Europe - nor anywhere in the world - are not considered by the British Government. It is the worst failing of democracy in Europe! And not commendable world-wide]

Yes it has.  Imagine if the citizen in Europe had some form of Representation in the House of Commons.  Pause and consider.   Would the Conservatives – Iain Duncan Smith - have put forward this absurd  plan of removing it from those of us living in his definition of ‘hot’ countries?  No of course not. 

Thanks to the European Court of Justice upholding the EU Law to which Britain has agreed by treaty,  Britain was forced to pay this Old Age Benefit to all elderly Britons within the EU.  If Britain seceded from the EU, the British pensioners and many more British Citizens would be drifting without the protection of the EU -- or any law.  In the last few decades, since 1973, it is EU law which protects us - NOT British law.  And, in whichever European State you live, are you confident that the local State laws will give you enough protection of your income, savings, residency? Whether that be French, Spanish, Cypriot, Italian, Portuguese (or wherever) law? Do you trust them without the umbrella of EU Law?  British Law does not protect you.

The petition on the Government site to retain the WFP is gaining signatures more rapidly than the petition to have Representation (the VOTE) [See below at end >]- But the petition on Representation is way out far more important! It is fundamental.

If the British Citizen in Europe had some form of Representation at Westminster, the Conservatives would not have proposed cutting this benefit, having only just a few months before granted it!  They would not, because they would know that at the next election we would all vote against them.  But then, the Labour Party is equally uninterested.  If we had that Representation they would be making overtures to us. Wouldn’t they?

Do you imagine that the matter of the WFP is an isolated instance?  You must know of the hike in passport fees. Would they have done do this if they got a glimmer that we might vote against them?  If Britain separated from the EU, is your pension safe? Laws and Regulations are not chiselled in stone. They can be changed.  Our friends and compatriots in other lands have their State pensions frozen.  It could happen in Europe.

Consider the economic scene.  The Sterling and Euro currencies are different economic systems. Lord Lipsey was eager to observe to me in a radio interview** that the European British pensioner does not contribute to the economy of Britain and therefore should not be represented in Westminster. It is a simplification and not entirely true. The Civil Servants in the British Treasury perceive the pensioner expat as a drain on the economy.   That is a blinkered viewpoint.  We are most decidedly ambassadors for Britishness. All expatriates are ambassadors.

But if Britain & the EU split apart, the negative view in Britain towards us could cause our pensions to be hit. 

[**The Lipsey interview on Expats Radio can be heard via the following link. (It can take a while to download)   The Exchange on Radio.]

Take another example - Under EU law the British Financial institutions should treat Citizens in Europe as equally as those resident in the UK. They do not!  Has anyone, as a non-resident, opened a new account in a British Bank within the UK?  It would be interesting to hear that someone has.  Will they accept your investments as easily as if you lived in Britain? No.  But EU law says that there should be freedom of movement of financial services and capital. It is a fight that needs to be fought.  British expatriates want to invest in Britain. It is mighty strange that Britain makes it difficult!

The fall in the value of the £ against the Euro is related to the same economic scenario.

The British Citizen has been encouraged to get integrated in Europe by the development of the EU but now is blown by whatever economic blast without any real shield.  Their finances have  no real protection.

The issue of the relationship between the British Citizen and his/her National Government is worldwide.

The Protection that the British Citizen should have is the protection that the British Government should achieve through treaty arrangements and reaction to the needs of the British Citizen abroad – everywhere. It should nurture the British Citizen abroad not ignore him.

The British Citizen abroad is ….

• The Businessman trying to win trade for Britain. 
• The Citizen who lives abroad for his/her welfare or/and that of their children, hoping for freedom from strife.
• The Pensioner who wants wider horizons and more living space.

All of us are fostering Britishness beyond the shores of Britain.

In Europe we need to be represented for the sake of Britain in Europe- not just for ourselves. 

We need to be listened to.  We need to be heard.  We need to be understood. We need to be Represented in the seat of our Government. So that we work together for the good of Britain and ourselves.

We demand the vote!

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

Please forward the above  to your colleagues/family/friends  and to some MP you know –

Grant Shapps MP – Chairman of the Conservative Party - He has said it is important that people affected by the Referendum have a say in it.  Will you have a say in it?

shappsg@parliament.uk

James Wharton MP – who tabled the motion on the Referendum

james.wharton.mp@parliament.uk

for the rest…. Visit…

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

> petitions And if you have not done so …. Sign up to the petitions here – we need 10,000 signatures. - another 8,000 plus! Circulate to Accumulate!

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43238

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/52121
If these petition sites fail to accept your foreign post-code, then use the last one you had in Britain or that of a close relative.

and leave a comment here…

www.votes-for-expat-brits.com

EMIGRATION of British State Pensioners

To go to the beginning and to the  INDEX click here

The statistics on the world wide distribution of British State Pensioners has been published for  
MAY 2012 (on March 1st 2013).
See the original tabulation here -click
Certain information has been selected and tabulated below.  This publication follows various other postings of a similar nature on this site. See notably http://pensionersdebout.blogspot.fr/2011/11/british-pensioners-leave-britain-yet.html
The Index to this site lists others equally relevant.

The above table selects certain countries and the migration of British pensioners is listed and sorted according to the figures in the right hand column.  This column gives the PERCENTAGE change in migration in the LAST YEAR 2011-2012
The countries which hold the largest NUMBER are in order
Australia , Canada, USA, Ireland, then Spain and France.
In the last year five countries have seen a decrease - Four of those have frozen pensions.
Two significant countries with frozen pensions have seen increases - India and New Zealand.
The Netherlands and Switzerland have seen the highest %  change in the last year.
Spain, France and Ireland have experienced the greatest increase in actual numbers over the decade.
Pakistan and Jamaica show a remarkable % drop over the decade, but the number in Pakistan is relatively low.
The factors which influence this migration are quite varied.  Financial, Family, and Cultural and Social conditions must play a part but differ from country to country and from individual to individual.
About 9.4 % of all State Pensioners now live beyond the UK.  If all the countries of the World are included there were in May 2012 -about 1,202,620 State Pensioners resident abroad.
These pensioners are mostly subject to decisions of the British Government (if not the resident citizens! of Britain.)
Those in Europe will have a ghastly shock if Britain pulled out of the European Union. All 450,000 of them, including the smaller countries.
Those in the further Commonwealth have long suffered the problems of frozen pensions and probably that is why the numbers in some of these countries is declining.
All should have a democratic voice in the decisions of Parliament which affect them.
To do so they should be aware of the petition given below and sign up!
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43238

Representation for British Pensioners

To go to the start and THE INDEX click here.

To all members of the Select Committee for Pension Policy.

Each one is addressed personally.

From the Campaign for Representation for Britons Abroad.

I write to you each individually.   Each of you is motivated in the cause of justice for the individual.  What civilised person would not be?   Yet today justice for the British Citizen living beyond the shores of Britain is a fragile thing.  You are concerned for those who are pensioners, yet as far as I can perceive, your concerns in this barely stretch beyond the shores of Britain.  Yet 450,000 State pensioners live in the near continent of Europe and over another 500,000 live further away, with agglomerations chiefly in lands associated as the British Commonwealth and the USA.

There are (February 2012 figures) a grand total of 12,707,640 State Pensioners – of these 1,197,690 live abroad – that is to say 9.42% of the total – nearly one in ten.

There are some astonishing details lodged in the statistics. 

During the last year:-

The total number increased by 134,530  - an increase of    1.070%

The  number resident in the UK increased by 118,560 -up 1.041%

The  number resident abroad rose by 15,970   up                1.351%

PROPORTIONATELY  the numbers abroad are increasing faster than those in the UK.  The rise has slackened since 2009, no doubt because of the financial crisis and the rumoured difficulties of the Euro, but it has not stopped!

The number relating to those abroad, you will understand is not solely due  to an additional clutch of pensioners. The number includes the replacements of those who have died and those who have returned to the UK to end their days amongst their family at ‘home’.  

The movement of pensioners since 1973 to Europe is shown in the following  set of graphs.

Figures gleaned from the series of Government Statistics on pensions–

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

[To view earlier years change the 12 to 11,10,09 etc]

[Click on the image to enlarge and then 'esc' to return]

The percentage  abroad has increased year by year without relent from 8.22% in 2002  to 9.42% today.

Why should these figures be important to the members of the Select Committee on Pensions Policy?

1. Are these not British Citizens to be honoured and respected for the service they have given to the United Kingdom?

2.  Is it appropriate for the Select Committee to appear to ignore nearly 10% of the elderly citizens of Britain?   You may be surprised to learn that the British pensioner abroad feels ignored and rejected by the British Government but she and he most surely does.

The counter arguments.

Some in Parliament (I speak of the 600 not just the committee) would argue that if the pensioner moves abroad then he or she has moved out of the ambit of the British Government and therefore is on his ‘tod’ and HMG has no interest.   That has been, has it not, the attitude behind the saga of the Winter Fuel Payment?  Has not that also been the feeling behind the resistance to paying the DLA  or Attendance Allowance?  Some of you in Parliament have assumed that the migrant pensioner must be better heeled than those at ‘home’.  Some of you have considered that the migrant pensioner is bathing in warm sunshine all the year round. (Yet winter temperatures in much of Europe are colder than Cornwall and certainly more cold than the Western Isles of Scotland where average minimum temperatures in winter are above zero).  We are reported as scroungers and parasites in some press items. 

Perhaps as a committee you might consider the reasons why so many migrate.

Reasons for emigration

Quality of Life.  Many want space and cannot afford that space in the UK.  The cost of a tiny terraced house in London could win you a delightful detached house with a large garden in France. 

Quite a few follow their children who have previously taken advantage  of the ‘free’ movement in the EU. Others follow their children to Canada or Australia.  Many have gone to Ireland, again for reasons of space.  Others with a zest for life seek new horizons.

Pensioners in Europe (and the World)

All those who migrate to continental Europe assume that having paid into the National Insurance System for perhaps 40 years and also assuming that ‘freely untrammelled movement’ under EU regulations means what it says,  have joyously taken up a new life in their old age, carrying the culture of Britain with them, just as do the British expatriates all over the world.  They rejoice in the British successes at the Olympics.  They cheer for Wiggo as he cycles through the French countryside.  They hold tea parties to celebrate the Queen’s jubilee and watch with fascination the wedding of Kate and Will. 

Can you imagine people more British and proud? These are people who know at first hand the ravages of European wars (as I can relate from personal experience! Note my Biography link at the end).  These are people who see themselves as global or European Citizens.  Financial, Family and plain cultural ties glue them to Britain.  Great numbers are affected by financial decisions of Parliament.  But over all else they are British and are ambassadors for Britain.  

There is also a younger generation of Britons who are in the world spreading British influence and giving it all they have in entrepreneurial effort.

Britain’s insulting soggy cloth

Do all these Britons deserve the soggy cloth that is thrown at them by the British Government?

The Government and the Government before, and before that again, has told the expatriate pensioner that after 15 years abroad, his/her interest in Britain has surely waned.  A spokesman for Nick Clegg has said:-

“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.”   ‘In short – get stuffed!’

There is no word in the Thesaurus which expresses the disdain and open mouthed astonishment that this paragraph engenders in the pensioner within the EU. It is unbelievable that such sentiments can be uttered by a politician who has served in Brussels, has a Spanish wife and speaks Dutch like a native.  Somehow the concept of Europe as a comity of nations with threads of the citizens of its nations weaving links across the continent, each binding the whole but tied to their home National Government at the selvedge is lost on him.   

The cloth of nations that is Europe would be weakened if the thread that is Britain were to be pulled loose. It could fall apart if certain sentiments are allowed to run on untrammelled through the body politic of Britain.

The words of Clegg, Farrage,  and the ranting of the Sun and the Mail are  damaging the future role of Britain in Europe.  The thread of Britain in Europe needs reinforcement, not to be broken.  

The heart of Europe.

Being at close proximity to the British Isles, it is not surprising that the crisis is most acute for the pensioners who live there in the EU/EEA and Switzerland.

We pensioners live in close association and awareness with the United Kingdom.  We are so fascinated with the political scene that we watch each Wednesday PMQs,  and  at other times Dateline London, Question Time and listen to Any Questions each Friday.  Most of us have no representation at all in Parliament.  There is no-one sitting on those green benches who has any real appreciation as to what it is like being a Briton in Europe, subject to regulations derived from the EU with treaties signed by the UK acting in our name but without any representation from us.

If a Referendum on the future of Britain in Europe should ever come to be, the vast majority of Britons who would be most profoundly affected by the outcome will have no say whatsoever in the deliberation.  This is not democracy.

As things are – The Briton in Europe can do no more than sit back and let a distant Parliament decide their future.  It is not surprising that our minds hearken back 240 years  to the time of George III and the American Colonies when the British Government dictated to those in a distant land.  Today it is same syndrome.  A blundering Government  dictates what its distant unrepresented citizens shall do.

Subjects which should be of concern to the Select Committee on Pensions Policy.

All the above has as it central theme the issue of Representation.

Firstly then--- . Representation for the Briton Abroad at Westminster. 

Remember - A Nation does not exist without its citizens. 

                     It is the totality of the Citizens which is the Nation – whether they be resident in a small patch of territory or not. 

                        The Government of a Nation should be through the goodwill of its citizens. 

To study this in further detail refer to  www.votes-for-expat-brits.com

Large numbers of Britons Abroad have left comments viewable at.

http://polldaddy.com/poll/5099387/?view=results

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

But then there are other matters -  All are explored in the next link.

http://pensionersdebout.blogspot.com

You will also find a biography of the author here and at the end of this article.

1.  The taxation of Government Pensions - and associated with this the curious muddles of The Double Taxation Treaties.  These are a great mix-up and their impact is quite unfairly imposed on the pensioner in Europe.  Their impact is ridiculous.  Some pensioners who live in France pay more tax in consequence than should be the case.

2. The problem of use of the British financial institutions. And the maintenance of a bank account in the UK, for British Pensioners.

3. The interpretation of EU Law on Health and Social Security Costs for the British Pensioner.  The British Pensioners in Europe are under EU law dependent on the United Kingdom for their Social Security. The phrase is ‘the UK is the competent State' for their social security- therefore you, the Select Committee, should ensure that all operates satisfactorily for the pensioner in Europe.  The current interpretation of these laws runs counter to his/her interests.

2. The uniformity of payment of pensions to all pensioners in the World.

Those who have moved to the Commonwealth countries of Australia and Canada and SA and elsewhere are grieved that their State pensions are frozen. Yet is it not astonishing that British pensions paid to those in  Jamaica (equally a Commonwealth country) or the USA, are not frozen?

These items demonstrate to you that yawning disparities exist in concerns for the elderly citizen abroad in different and perplexing ways.

But the central focus is that we are neither permanently nor adequately represented in the seat of our Nation’s Government.

On October 23^rd a debate will open in the Lords on the very point of Representation of  the Briton Abroad.  If an amendment fails on this then shame will cloud once more the seat of Parliament as it did in 1776.

Please support now in the Lords, and in any future debate in the Commons, the rights of all pensioners (and thereby all Britons Abroad) to appropriate Representation for life in the Houses of Parliament.

lefourquet@orange.fr

Short Biography of the author

To.   Select Committee

Dame Anne Begg MP (Chair) Labour Aberdeen South  

Ms Debbie Abrahams MP Labour Oldham East and Saddleworth 

Mrs Harriett Baldwin MP Conservative West Worcestershire  

Mr. Andrew Bingham MP Conservative High Peak

Ms. Karen Bradley MP Conservative Staffordshire Moorlands

Ms. Sheila Gilmore MP Labour Edinburgh East

 Mr. Oliver Heald MP Conservative North East Hertfordshire

Ms. Glenda Jackson MP Labour Hampstead and Kilburn

Mr.  Brandon Lewis Conservative Great Yarmouth  

Mr. Stephen Lloyd MP Liberal Democrat Eastbourne

Ms. Teresa Pearce MP Labour Erith and Thamesmead

Postscript on November  17th 2012 - Only the chairperson replied to this mail - individually sent to each MP.  Anne Begg misunderstood and thought it  ONLY concerned the frozen State Pensions afflicting Pensioners in certain Commonwealth countries.  NONE of them responded to a call for Representation for British Citizens. 
The Debate in the House of Lords has been suspended because of inter party friction created by the Liberal Democrats.