Voting rights for expats

They've made a choice but maybe a lot of them in their heart of hearts think they might return to the UK when the going gets tough? I guess they often want for their future and for their offspring? Not that I think that is right either.
The problem is the desire to have a foot in both camps and to cherry pick. I would be more concerned about their coming back to access the NHS which is not unheard of.

vampirequeen

That's disgraceful. Why should people who no longer live here have the right to help decide who governs us?

British citizens overseas deserve to have their voices heard in our Parliament no matter where they live

I agree, vampirequeen

My DD do not feel they have the right to vote in UK or Welsh elections that no longer affect them.

I'm an ex-pat of my country of birth. I have the right to vote and I don't as I feel I've lost touch with life there. If I planned to return maybe I'd vote as I'd have more of a vested interest in the direction of the country, but I don't plan to return, so I focus on where I am living now and plan to remain.

Well yes, but no.
Yes they are British, but if they’ve chosen to take up residency abroad and pay their taxes to their new home country then no, I think they’ve made an active choice. Why try to influence what we, as residents, have to live with here?

I sort of get it, they are still British and affected to an extent by what goes on back here.
Yes, it will please a fair few expats but there's always the exchange rate to complain about instead, and that affects them far more and can't be changed.

Where will they draw the line?

Several of my family members emigrated when they were young and haven't been back in decades. Many still have a right to UK passports. Would they get to vote?

It's a daft and transparently obvious idea.

Not for Brexit though. They’d have all voted ‘no’ wouldn’t they? Funny how it’s being changed now to coincide with any Indy2.

vampirequeen

That's disgraceful. Why should people who no longer live here have the right to help decide who governs us?

I guess this is the justification “ Ministers believe that expats should have a say because decisions made by MPs on areas such as foreign policy, defence, immigration, pensions, and trade deals affect them wherever they live in the world.”

Not saying I agree, mind.

Well my Scottish stepfather will be voting ‘no’ then in any Indy2 referendum.

Actually though, I’m not sure that I agree with these new proposals. Maybe (cynically) it’s because Brexit is done now?

If anyone has lived outside the UK for 15 years they should lose their right to vote on matters in the UK.

That's disgraceful. Why should people who no longer live here have the right to help decide who governs us?