Reasons for the European Union

Reasons for the EU by Carol Lavinia Fraser (<link) 

Carol Fraser wrote the following on the Forum  site Survive France Network

  She is stating why the EU is important to Britain and thereby the citizens of Britain.  I have added some comments in purple.

The first two items are so frequently indicated as reasons why Britain should leave the EU.  But they are on a continental scale what every honourable governing body does from countries to communes.  It is a matter of supporting the less economically developed regions, districts and individuals for the good of all.
 1.  The UK puts in £12 billion into the EU.  It gets back £6 billion.

2.  Each person pays €195.82 in and receives €108.75

From the developing economic strength of the less economic areas one gets trade.  That is what items 3 and 4 are about.
 3.  The free market is worth £227 million in exports to the UK - walk away from that?

4.  The new digital market which is in the process of being set up is estimated to be worth €451 billion and millions of new jobs - walk away from that?

5.  One of the biggest receivers of EU funding is agriculture.  Would our farmers get any funding from a UK government? Risky. Probably a hike in food prices, we all know they do not need much excuse to do that. 
The beauty of the landscape and the intimacy of food producers with the consumers (e.g. such as farmers' markets) depend on subsidies.

6.  Britain together with the EU is a world leader in the field of science and technology.  This is funded by the EU and includes Europeans in the university faculties.  This would go!  The EU is encouraging training of British (and other) students across Europe via the Erasmus programme (which see) - Brexit would probably cut it dead.

7.  Free trade into one of the biggest markets in the world.  America and China want the UK to stay leaders in the market and both have specified they would not be interested in the UK if it is out.  The car industry has warned Cameron to stay in Europe.  What are the implications of that?  The EU has over 50 trade deals globally which we have access to because we are in.  Estimate in lost jobs 2 million.

8.  London and the city are the world leaders in finance.  Implications of an out? Nobody knows!

9.  Security.  Loss of the European arrest warrant and cooperation between police and intelligence sources.  Police chiefs are worried about this one.  Turn the clock back to 1939 and Britain stands alone?  In the event of an 'out' a border would have to erected in Ireland with possible repercussions of kicking off the troubles again.  On the home front the Scots are very unhappy with the possibility of any out and are threatening another referendum to allow them to stay in the EU.  The world is currently in turmoil and we have the strength of a united Europe to take comfort from.  Winston Churchill said after the war the only way for there to be lasting peace in Europe was to be united.  How right he was.

10.  Each British subject has the protection of the European Bill of Human Rights.  Cameron said he will rewrite this into a British constitution.  Wow I for one do not TRUST him to do that.

11.  We each have freedom of movement in the EU and many of the low paid jobs are being done by Europeans, including Portuguese nurses in the health service.  The NHS is graunching (grinding/creaking) now, what would happen if they had to go home?

You might be interested in a conversation on Facebook I had with UKIP Bury.  I put six of the above points and expected an intelligent reasoned response.  What did I get? "Oh Carol you have been reading propaganda".  Right, I thought to ask where he gets his info, the response "The Daily Express".  This being run by a media billionaire baron who no doubt has his own hidden agenda.  I can report on that it was like talking to cotton wool.

In conclusion I would recommend you all sign up to British Influence and get their newsletter.  The reports are written by university professors and political grandees with much knowledge.  I would further recommend you demand answers from UKIP because so far they have none.  To vote 'out' would be to take a giant leap into the unknown.  They glibly state that we can have our own trade deals.  Estimated time to set these up? Years.

I could go on and I expect you will have guessed by now I am an ardent european.  I live in France and love it here having been here for 10 years.  I do not wish to go home and I furthermore do not want to see the land of my birth go to the wall.

****

The European endeavour is in its infancy. It is not perfect as no new venture is perfect.  Europe has had two millennia of changes, most of them traumatic.  We need now to guide the future, and not stand aside. Britain is one of three great economic powers of Europe along with Germany and France and we three should work together so that the whole does not founder.

The BREXIT, the VOTE and you.

to go to the Index click here

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.

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

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/

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

Message on Poppy Day - from Harry Shindler

Harry Shindler MBE 

sends

this message to all Members of Parliament

Please will you do likewise?

Click on the image to enlarge- To return press 'esc'

please CIRCULATE widely
The jpg document 'A Thought on Poppy Day' can also be downloaded from www.lefourquet.net/PoppyDay.jpg


To go to the INDEX of this blog click on Index

UKIP and the British Expatriate in the European Union.

To go to the index click here

Crisis for the Expatriate in Europe?

Why has UKIP been so successful?

Probably because in Britain, the public is disenchanted by their experiences with the traditional politicians.  [See also below **Nigel Farage**]

Expatriates haven’t had a chance to express an opinion. Many can’t vote! Most of the rest do not bother. Amongst them it would seem ‘apathy’ rules.  The Government’s Electoral Commission has made efforts to get to them to register to vote.  Petitions originating in Spain and France to awaken a political consciousness have become damp squibs.  As a leading example, a petition begun by  the editor of a French English language newspaper (the Connexion)  has attracted only just over 3400 signatures – It needs tens of thousands of signatures. Why do expats not claim the right to vote!  It is in their interest to do so.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/55085. 

There are over 60,000 British pensioners living in France [106,000 in Spain; and another 140,000 throughout Europe excluding Ireland] -these groups have the most to lose if Farage’s UKIP  gains ascendancy in Britain.  Why have not these 300,000 signed these petitions? Is it that they are ignorant of the situation?  By doing so they could gain power to protect their pensions, investments, health care costs and other aspects of their lives.   But it seems they cannot be bothered; they are apathetic and ‘cannot see the point’ in voting for a politician in the UK.  Quite probably few also have bothered to vote for the MEP lists for the Euro-Parliament.

You can see a reason for this appalling apathy.  As things are, there is only a handful of British politicians who show the slightest interest at all in the welfare of Britons abroad. Those few of us who have written to MPs get answers saying ‘The government has decided this or that.’  They never show a willingness to debate, to listen.  It is surely necessary that they are forced to take an interest.

Turning attention to the younger generation of expatriates, remember also,– they can only live in the EU by agreement with the EU. For these reasons (and more), some representatives for expatriates are necessary at Westminster.

If the Farage bandwagon continues to its desired end the situation could be most uncomfortable for British people living in other Countries of the EU.  A referendum flying on the words of Nigel Farage could spell disaster for them

If the expatriates fail to have political protection, then they are not masters of their lives. If the EU fails for us, we have no defence.

The situation is dangerous.

**Farage and cultural change.**

Nigel Farage is undoubtedly exuberant and is quite a positive and likeable chap.  He seems to be listening to the mood of the people – in Britain.  That mood, partly arising from political disenchantment would appear also to arise from discomfort at cultural change in Britain brought about by immigration. But a similar argument can operate in reverse in France and parts of Spain.

In France, am I odd in feeling uncomfortable when one hears a large number of English voices  in a small town?  Is it possible that some French people could also be uncomfortable with this cultural change?  Is this also true in Spain? Cyprus?

The  danger for British Citizens in Farage’s desire to exit the EU?

British Citizens would cease to be European Citizens!  That is truly serious.

The Briton would no longer have the right to freely live and move in Europe.

Euro laws would no longer operate to preserve the right to ensure that British State pensions be paid in full in Europe.  All benefits would cease to be protected,

Health care support would cease.

The French (or Spanish, Cypriots etc.) could impose restrictions on foreigners in almost any manner. This would impinge of the lives of both older and younger generations.  Emigration from the UK to Europe would be seriously affected.

All Euro States would become as foreign to the British State as any other country in the world.

In brief it is most urgent that Britons abroad in Europe  are heard and listened to in the British parliament.

All who value the present situation and their ability to live in the European Union should sign this petition of the Editor of the Connexion.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/55085.

And also this one  --- www.europeancitizensabroad.eu

If you entitled to  register to vote in the UK elections – do so here

https://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/    [Go to ‘overseas voters’]

It is desirable that people contact MPs – even the Prime Minister- in Britain.   Get an address from this link -

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

You could forward this item… But the low number of signatures on the petitions simply affirms in their minds that the matter is of no importance to us. 

If  Farage has his way in some future referendum,  our world could be become greatly changed, and we will have no say at all.  Remember that.

(Brian Cave – lefourquet@gmail.com)

View more than 640  comments from expatriates who want the vote here. http://polldaddy.com/poll/5099387/?view=results

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?

Who needs the Vote most? - The Government? or The Voter?

 To go to the Index and Beginning click here

On Friday 31^st January 2014 in the House of Lords The EU Referendum Bill – died - but it is far from dead!    What does that mean for us?  Quite a lot!

Your help needed – see below.

Lord Lipsey,  the archetypal ‘we rule – you are ruled’ politician, tabled the motion that the House should  ‘resume’! This arcane procedure meant that the Committee stage of the House debating the Referendum Bill came to an abrupt end and so did the Bill itself!  It is all slightly strange to those unfamiliar with the way ‘our’ government proceeds.

The Bill had a gaping great hole in its construction so far as the Citizen Abroad who lives in other States of the EU are concerned.  Unless the British Citizen had left less than fifteen ago he/she could have no vote in the referendum.  So although their lives could be turned upside down following the possibility of an OUT vote created by the resident British population, they could have no democratic say in the laws and treaties which affect their future, and it seems that most other expatriates are blind to the consequences. We were not to be consulted because ‘they’ rule – n’est-ce pas!

It is frankly tragic that so few citizens abroad in the EU realise the dangerous cliff edge which was appearing in front of them.

But Citizens across the world are also affected, for what affects the Government’s attitude towards the British Citizen in the EU also affects them.

THIS BILL will return effectively in an unchanged form UNLESS the British Citizens abroad DEMAND change! Demand Representation! Demand the Vote! But ‘the rulers have ruled’ from time immemorial, but should this be their attitude?  Should there not be a dialogue?

If the Conservatives win at the next election, Mr. Cameron has made it quite clear that a new Referendum Bill would appear and would be forced through Parliament almost exactly in its present form.

It is my view that a Referendum might have one good outcome.  That is - as long as the result is ‘yes’!   It would lance the festering boil of contention over this issue in Britain, and ensure that Britain is where it should be as a leading nation in Europe. But surely ! any new Referendum Bill should not ignore the British Citizens in  the rest of Europe!  But it most certainly will unless we, the citizens abroad, put aside our distrust of all politicians and say in no uncertain voice - WE WANT TO BE REPRESENTED.   We need to be Represented. We count! We are British Citizens!

A number of members of the Lords spoke well in our interest on Friday. Among these were the Lords Shipley, Bowness, Baroness Quinn, Kerr of Kinlochard, Williams of Elvel,  and others.  I was interested to hear Lord Kinnock refer to the oft-repeated phrase ‘no taxation without representation’ . He was referring to the French residents in Britain but the same could be said of  so many Britons Abroad who by law have to pay tax to the UK! These are the politicians who think differently – their mind set is ‘We rule but we listen to the citizen’ .  “We rule by consent”  They may be unelected peers but quite a few listen to the citizens.

I am quite certain, from personal mails to me, that leading proponents of this Bill, are sympathetic to our cause, but the appalling apparent lack of interest by the expatriate citizen in the political scene, is ruining our position and if we do not stand up now and say WE WANT TO HAVE REPRESENTATION IN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT then we might well not get it in our lifetime.

The reason why the Politicians are indifferent to us, is because most of us are indifferent towards them!  This must change.

Your help is needed.

We need to publicise in ten Bullet Points why the British Citizen Abroad needs to be represented in the British Parliament.

It is necessary that the needs of the citizen are heard.

BUT ALSO

It is necessary for good Government and the ongoing prestige of Britain that the citizen is consulted. It is in the interest of The Government that ‘we have the vote’!

Send me your thoughts - your list. Covering why the Government needs to represent us as well as why we need this representation.

The final list will be publicised through all the media outlets we can muster.

Now is the hour to stand! For the right to be heard, and the need to listen.

 lefourquet@gmail.com

Hansard report can be read here.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldhansrd/text/140131-0002.htm

Begin at column 1532 for the amendment 57 on ‘Entitlement to vote in the Referendum’.

With good internet reception you can view the Parliament TV. Recoding at:--

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=14792.

Begin towards 2.15 p.m.

Profiles of the Lords who spoke can be read here.

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

Winter Fuel payment in Europe - Dept of Work & Pensions manipulation of Statistics.

To go to the Index click here

This message has been sent to all members of the Select Committee for Work & Pensions.

From the Campaign for Representation (votes) for Britons Abroad, and
Pensioners Debout! [Stand up!] France.
Look at the end to see what you can do.   This 'tail piece' was not included to the Select Committee members.

The Winter Fuel payment in Europe
The Manipulation of WFP and Temperature statistics by the DWP .

NOTE! ---A resumé of a much larger briefing paper to be viewed here
http://www.lefourquet.net/WFP-RBpaper-V4.pdf   (if the link fails please copy and paste the address to the left in your browser)

July 2011 -  Following a European Union Court of Justice  (CJEU)* judgement which in train confirmed  that ‘old-age benefits’ for eligible British Citizens should be paid across the EU, Iain Duncan-Smith said.

“We will fight these ridiculous EU rules. The Winter Fuel Payment is about helping British pensioners with heating costs and it is ludicrous that we could have to pay more pensioners living in hot countries.”

*http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf;jsessionid=9ea7d2dc30dba4e0f84c4b0945c091cdde9cc21fd65d.e34KaxiLc3qMb40Rch0SaxuMb3z0?text=&docid=107933&pageIndex=0&doclang=EN&mode=lst&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=29792

June 2013 – George Osborne said “…. from the autumn of 2015, we will link the winter fuel payment to a temperature test; people in hot countries will no longer get it”

July 2013 the DWP said “The WFP-Temperature Link  proposal lists 7 countries (Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal and Spain) that will become out of scope for payment of WFP."

The DWP has consulted the Met Office but not the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia from where the temperature data originated. The DWP has used this data supplied by the Met Office to fit its policy. The  paper (available via the above link) details this history thoroughly.

An FoI request to request a view of the actual correspondence between the DWP and the Met Office, has been partially refused, though a copy of the Met Office report to the DWP has been received and can be read here - http://www.lefourquet.net/Report_to_DWP.pdf  [It is 70 pages in size]. (if the link fails - paste address into a browser)
The Met Office  has independently disclosed that they used the CRU data and “ the report provided two temperatures, one to include the French départements d'outre mer (DOMs), and one without. The average winter temperature for France (including the DOM's) is 7.0°C; without DOMs, it is 4.9°C.

The above report details temperature data for the SW region of England and computes an average winter daily temperature of 5.6 degrees C.  This temperature the DWP used as a standard to compare with temperatures of countries in Europe.

The chart below gives these comparisons

But in order to formulate France as  a ‘hot’ country, the DWP report  incorporates the Nov-March temperatures for the tropical French DOMs (Overseas Departments)  - i.e French Guyana, Martinique, Réunion,  and Guadeloupe [officially listed as Outermost Regions of the EU]  into the figures for mainland France. [Similar measures are used for Spain and Portugal.
This was done solely for political reasons – no other.
There is no professional geographer who would classify the DOMs as geographically part of France.
The data published by CRU (available to us) is not in agreement with the Met Office/DWP Report -
e.g for Italy the CRU gives 7.54 degrees C- The Met Office/DWP gives 5.7.- BOTH are above the 5.6 in the DWP report for SW England.  Yet the DWP has classified Italy as 'not hot'.  Statistics have been chosen to fit a policy.

To the left is the isotherm distribution for Europe (January) . The whole of  mainland France lies within the same isotherm distribution range as Britain and so does much of Spain and Italy.

The Outer Hebrides and Belfast lie on the same isotherm as Lyon.
Oddly, both Italy, and Ireland (marginally on the CRU data) have, warmer winter temperatures than SW England yet the DWP do not classify these countries as ‘hot’. Data -for Ireland CRU - 5.64 : Met/DWP  5.5
Why has the DWP  classified France and Spain as ‘hot’ and Italy (and Ireland?) as ‘not hot’? 
With Ireland, the data (from CRU or the MET?) may be related to the delicate political situation. To exclude Britons in Southern Ireland (eg Donegal) whilst retaining those in Northern Ireland would be politically unacceptable.  But there again -- to somehow define Italy as 'not hot' on these confusing set of statistics is a mystery.

Is not the true reason because the number of WFP payments for 2011/2012  are as follows?
Spain  33,815   -  France  18,155   - the two highest in Continental Europe.   The data is manipulated to save money, without consideration of the citizen.

Whilst Ireland has 7155 ,  Cyprus 5420, Portugal 2080, Italy 1425. Greece 1,405, Germany 1220, Malta 1110    ----  All other countries are below 400 each.

Aged British Citizens in straightened financial circumstances, who happen to have chosen to legally reside in other countries of the European Economic Area, recently delighted to have this extra help, would once again be deprived, unless this disgraceful affair is exposed.  These ageing Britons have no political voice, and if it were not for the concern of a very few of the more able of us, the matter would remain hidden.

Brian Cave (lefourquet@orange.fr)  (with acknowledgements to R. Boaden)  www.votes-for-expat-brits.com  http://pensionersdebout.blogspot.com

WHAT YOU CAN DO ----[This version is sent to all activists.]

Dame Anne Begg MP (Chair)	Labour
Debbie Abrahams MP	Labour
Graham Evans MP	Conservative
Sheila Gilmore MP	Labour
Glenda Jackson MP	Labour
Kwasi Kwarteng MP	Conservative
Stephen Lloyd MP	Liberal Democrat
Nigel Mills MP	Conservative
Anne Marie Morris MP	Conservative
Teresa Pearce MP	Labour
Dame Angela Watkinson MP	Conservative

1.  To the left is listed the members of the Select Committee for Work & Pensions.  Clicking in any one will raise a profile and an email address.  You can write as follows, but try to use your own phrases..
"Dear xxxx,  I am not one of your constituents* but I have no other way of stating my views. You will have received information on the manipulation of data by the DWP concerning the suspension of the WFP for people in continental Europe --- Here state your circumstances.  If you are hard up say so.  State the climate where you live. etc etc."

2.   *If you still have an MP, write also to him/her.  You can also claim attention from the MP of the constituency where you were last living in the UK.

3.  Get people to sign this petition [ http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/55085 ]  Few people realise the importance of this.

4.   Circulate this message.

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.