how can so many British immigrants in the EU have voted for Brexit?

How many have? Are there statistics available?

It's like turkeys voting for Christmas !

saw one guy on tv recently ,he thinksBritain is right to leave the EU ...as there are too many immigrants being allowed in.HE has lived in Spain for 20 odd years ..an immigrant by another name ..ex pat .Wearing his union flag t-shirt and sitting with his full english breakfast you can see instanly how well integrated he is to the Spanish way of life .aIt would be funny if it wasn't so tragic.

Because they wanted to?

I thought that Brits not living in Britain were not allowed to vote in the referendum. That was one of the reasons why remainers lost

foreignbird If you live abroad you keep your vote for 15 years,.

I have met several people like the man Paddyann mentions. One of the reasons they often give for living abroad is 'that Britain is full of too many immigrants' completely failing to spot the irony of their statement.

Foreignbird Because a huge % of "ex-pats" do not legally register in the Country they have moved to ie; registering on the padron in the area they have settled in they carry on using a GB address for benefits & healthcare etc then fly back every few months to keep on top of things very naughty indeed I have seen loads do it.

Why is someone who comes to live in the UK an 'immigrant' but a Brit who lives abroad is an 'ex-pat'? I'm not making any judgement, just want to know.

Glammanana, yes, I know that goes on. On our doorstep !

This country still has a social security agreement with about a dozen countries whereby I know that certain benefits can be obtained, child benefit for instance. Not sure about Spain being one of them though maybe it might just be a given length of time until you register as living there.

Nonnie
They are all immigrants in the countries that they relocate to and all ex-pats from the countries they have left.
This term is not exclusively used by Brits.

It was their right to vote in any way that they wished, and they probably still have family living in the UK.

We are neighbours of a Polish couple living and working here for over 10 years but who think that we should leave the EU and they support Trump because he puts America first. I was speechless when they told me and am still trying to work it out.
They would like to return to Poland in a few years because the economy there is stronger than it was and they will get good jobs. I suspect they may have met some racism.
They will then be part of the Brexodus

A combination of believing the fallout won’t affect them and that there are too many immigrants of the wrong colour in the UK now, I suspect.

My daughter has Sikh neighbours ( not born in uk) they voted to leave.

This country will be all the worse if the Polish intend to return to their country as they're hard workers and have set up quite a few businesses in some areas.

My D has met some very nice Poles working in nursing homes when she once worked as an agency nurse for BUPA, both male as well as female and they were dedicated to their jobs but sadly not treated well by their British counterparts, in fact my D intervened a few times towards the harridans who called themselves " caring ". The male nurse returned home before his time was up because he was upset at the way he was treated.

It would be funny if it wasn't so tragic.

But you have described the vest-wearing, lager-swilling, stereotype paddyann which is grossly unfair on those ex pats who DO go abroad to experience life as its lived in other countries. Many who settle do all they can to integrate.

Like always finds like, even in the UK. There is a thriving Polish community not far from where I live now. Shops cater for their needs, they eat strange fish and love spicy sausages, consume lots of vodka and they run community events to bring the Polish together. I have no problem with that. Is that not a case of lack of integration too - or at least people doing what vest-man does abroad?

I'd say not - it's people forming groups for social needs and for identity, just as many (not all) who go to Spain will want beer, football and a Sunday roast. If the indigenous population are happy to provide it, and it helps the economy, what's the problem?

lemon : 'It was their right to vote in any way that they wished,'... that is not in question -

what is in question is how, in any way, it even begins to make any sense- as they themselves will be massively affected - and .. their families back home to boot.

No problem at all with immigrant communities making an effort to keep their identity, language and culture - the difference is when that is opposed to integration, sharing in the culture of where you have chosen to live, learn the language and history - as well as ...

Just too many British expats in communities in France and Spain never make an effort to integrate, learn the language, etc. Many order on line from Tesco's etc, and have stuff delivered regularly from UK, have unregistered plumbers and electricians driving over with white goods, etc, and have the work done on the black and often without following local regs, etc. There are many notable exceptions indeed - and neither side is limited by 'class' either. Many of the ones who behave as above are very well to do ...

Our Polish builders and decorators (we employed them a few years ago) said their original intention was to come to Britain, work hard, send money home (earnings were SO much better in the UK) and do that for about seven or eight years. One even built a house in Poland for his wife who was homesick when she first arrived. The plan was to go back.

He laughed as he told us his wife now preferred the UK, he was happily settled with lovely neighbours, his children were doing well at school - and they have now sold their newly build house in Poland!

He says he saw a time when many eastern Europeans (in particular) came to the UK in droves. Some worked, others were here under the radar, and he feared that the balance, especially in UK building trades would take a knock. He saw wages fall in the space of a few years because there were too many builders chasing too few jobs.

He hoped the UK would vote to Leave the UK. Yes, I found that strange. He said there was the same unrest in Poland about the EU and a migrant workforce. He felt his future was secure here. I imagine it will be.

He and his team worked like Trojans. They didn't understand the need for frequent tea breaks. (How strange! I am a tea addict.) I offered, they never accepted. However, they did crack open cans of strong beer late in the afternoon before the van came to collect them. It didn't affect their performance and we found it quite amusing. My youngest son gave them work too and on completion of the job they gave him a case of their 'special' beer. Happy memories. Lovely men.

hmm yes, interesting. But the point re British expats in France and Spain - voting against their own future?

I had a lovely Polish friend, She was an excellent cook, although I never experienced strange fish. She very rarely drank alcohol .
She has gone back now and I miss her so much.

The biggest migrant group in Scotland are the Poles. I was even told in our local haggis factory that at one time their workforce was entirely Polish because the Scots didn't want to work there . Another irony

Perhaps we should ask the question - why should anyone who doesn't live here have the right to vote on something which affects the future of this country?

Will now put away my wooden spoon, put on my tin hat and duck behind the sofa

jura2 perhaps they voted to leave the EU because they are
Intending to return to the UK at some point in the future and their families are there and likely they voted to leave too.
Perhaps they think ( many of us do) that the UK will do a lot better out of the EU than in it.