Expat Votes

[FredPuli43]

The LibDems have some novel ideas. Any thoughts on expats' MPs or job sharing MPs. If someone has emigrated for over 15 years, have they not distanced themselves from voting ? [Below: The Times]

Expatriates would have their own MPs in the Commons under a Liberal Democrat plan to create overseas constituencies.
The measure is part of an overhaul that would introduce devolution for Cornwall, “recognising its historic, cultural and linguistic claim to autonomy”. Other reforms would allow two candidates to run for Parliament together as “job-share” MPs.
The proposals are among those to be put to the Liberal Democrat spring conference next month and will become the party’s official policy for the next election, should they be voted through.
Seats representing Britons living in Europe, North America and Africa would be introduced, giving a voice to about 800,000 British nationals who live all or part of the year in Spain.
Several European countries give representation to nationals who have emigrated. France adopted the model in 2010, with two seats for North and South America, six covering Europe, two Africa and the Arabian peninsula and one for most of Asia and Oceania.

[woofgang]

I can actually see the point of allowing job share MP's I have worked in several jobshares myself and they can be very beneficial.

[mikey4444]

To be honest, I can't see why ex-pats have a vote in the first place ?

[Sqad]

You wouldn't, because the expat vote is mainly a Tory vote.

[DrFilth]

the only people voting here should be the english living here, if people move to this country and class this as there home let them also vote

[youngmafbog]

Actually Squad on this one I do, sort of, agree with Mickey.

I cannot see why ex-pats who never live in the country should vote in it.

And I am very much a Tory.

Quite agree Dr, no Scottish, no Welsh and no of those pesky people from Cornwall.

[pixie373]

If someone has permanently moved abroad, i don't see why they have any business voting and why would they want to?

[Sqad]

LOL.

Perhaps they are better positioned than the incumbents, they have paid UK tax and NI for around half a century, probably more tax than most, they have had half a century of British Politics both left and right leaning philosophies, they have lived in another country and have chance to experience, other Health Systems, Education Systems, Roads and welfare benefits.......I would have thought that there would be a wealth of experience for the UK to share.

[modeller]

Shouldn't our votes be based on informed opinion . If you are an expat you will rapidly lose touch with UK affairs. As they say a week is a long time in politics .
This is a typical Lib/Dem gimmick . The Tories and especially Labour should stay well away from it.

[DrFilth]

sqad > welfare benefits.... <

thought you were a skilled bloke did you never pass your test -)

[Sqad]

modeller.....
\\\ If you are an expat you will rapidly lose touch with UK affairs.\\

Printing, TV and wireless has just arrived on the Continent....and i understand that English newspapers of all Political persuasions are available.

[Prudie]

Just because they've moved abroad they are still British and have the right to vote - they can come home any time they want. Similarly I don't think expats should have any right to vote in the country they've moved to. Or are we saying expats should have no right to vote at all?

[LazyGun]

The Lib Dems probably got the idea from the French :)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17893296

If you remain a British citizen you should be entitled to a vote. Not quite sure how the expat vote works actually;Does their vote go to the last constituency they were in when they resided back in the UK? And I am also curious as to how many of those 800,000 or so expats would vote.

[Sqad]

LazyGun

You are eligible to vote in the UK election if you have lived in the UK in the last 15 years and were on the electoral role during this time and your vote will be eligible in the constituency within which you were previously living.

To answer you last point.....I have no idea.

[Ken4155]

If you live in, say, Bolton and then move to Burnley, are you still allowed to have a say in who is elected to run Bolton council. Of course you aren't. Ex-pats should not be allowed a say in elections in this country.

[joeluke]

Ex pats are exactly what it says on the tin - Brits who chose to live in another country.

Britain is not even a dot on the horizon to them anymore so why should they still have the right to vote here?

[EDDIE51]

If we have MPs for overseas what level of expenses will those MPs be able to claim?
The mind boggles, a second home in Spain. USA , Australia, New Zealand travel from the constituency to London every week. The MP for Africa or USA may need 5 or 6 homes for example to cover the whole constituency?

[Peter Pedant]

ex pat froggies return a member to the Fransh parliament dont they

they certainly have enough people to do so.

as a consumer of job shares (rather than doing one) all that occurred with the two is the forever cycle of 'o the other one is doing that tomorrow' and it neva gets done. [ and this seemed intentional - on the no decisions ever type of job share ]

[ToraToraTora]

expats shoud not have a vote, if the place is not good enough to live in then on what twisted logic should they have any sort of say of who runs it?

[Sqad]

TTT

\\\\ if the place is not good enough to live in \\\

Oh! dear.............is that why exPats go abroad?

[lady-janine]

devolution for cornwall. please NO.