Expats

Why do Expats want to vote in our General Election? Want their bloody cake and eat it?

Re: Expats

I guess some do. However, I am really rather glad that I no longer live in the UK as I don't feel guilty if I don't vote. I might find it harder to abstain if I still lived there, but there's not a lot to vote for these days...

Re: Expats

I don't want to; thank you very much for offering.

Re: Expats

If they are paying Tax here, then yes they should be entitled to a vote.

Re: Expats

I've been an expat for over 35 years and have never voted in the UK elections. As a resident I do however vote in the Hungarian elections.

Re: Expats

British citizens used to be able to vote in Australian Elections if they had been resident for 6 months. In the early 1980s this was deemed unfair to other residents who were not Australian or British so it was stopped.

However it was also thought to be unfair to British citizens who had registered to vote; so if you were British and registered to vote prior to 1984(ish) you would remain on the rolls. That did apply to me but by then I had already taken out Australian citizenship anyway.

Re: Expats

Hate the word ex-pat..

Reminds me of loud slightly drunk people in bad clothes in Spain..

I suppose if people have decided that their time away from home is only temporary then they should have the right to vote..Im thinking of people on placements or working overseas for a couple of years but if a person has up sticks and left the country for new pastures why should they be allowed to meddle with the affairs of those still at home?

Re: Expats

I agree with that Cass, temporarily away then they should be able to vote but leave permanently then stop meddling and concentrate on your adopted country now.

Re: Expats

I totally agree Cass. I can't imagine why they'd be remotely interested in voting back here anyway? They are obviously"done" here.

Re: Expats

Of course you should be able to vote if you are working or living overseas, if you're a British citizen.
Why would the country want to take away someone's vote. People live overseas for a while for all sorts of reasons, usually to do with work and they often return after a time.
You may well still own a home or business here so of course the politics affect you.