Votes for Life

[sophie]

Have just read in The Telegraph that the Tory Party have announced they are to scrap the 15 year limit thus enabling expats to vote for life.

[topten]

Why should expats who have no intention of returning to the UK have a vote to determine what government we that live here get. You should not be allowed to determine who governs the UK unless you live here or have business interests here.

[PoshinDevon]

Why should expats who have no intention of returning to the UK have a vote to determine what government we that live here get. You should not be allowed to determine who governs the UK unless you live here or have business interests here.

I have no stromg views either way, however in the interests of debate and discussion those not living in the UK are affected by decisions of the government of the day........a couple of examples - pensions, health provision and entitlement, tax on private pensions, investments. So perphaps expats should have voting rights.

[woodspeckie]

It is only in the proposal stage, has to be passed through Parliament. The government will check ex-pats identities and allow them to register to vote in elections but not local elections, it is estimated it will cost £1 million pounds to implement.

[kaiserphil]

Why should expats who have no intention of returning to the UK have a vote to determine what government we that live here get. You should not be allowed to determine who governs the UK unless you live here or have business interests here.

Business interests nothing! What matters to me is that I have family there, children and Grandchildren, and if I vote then I am voting for their future.

[jofra]

IMO, if you don't live here - maybe; but if you don't live here but do "have business interests here", that is a 200 percent prime reason for you to NOT have a vote - this would benefit businesses at the expense of ordinary residents, and is on a par with the TTIP plans, which would allow (US/foreign) companies to sue governments (i.e the taxpayers) when those companies are impeded/blocked in any of their plans....
(Outside-owned) businesses control/dictate to countries? I don't think so, if it can be at all prevented....

[sophie]

As the Tax Man in UK takes every penny he can from me, which is then spent on education, hospitals, infra structure Social Security for other people (including immigrants) then I would suggest we have every right to vote in the UK, If you are not a UK Tax payer, then, there is an argument against votes for life,

[Groucho]

It is only in the proposal stage, has to be passed through Parliament. The government will check ex-pats identities and allow them to register to vote in elections but not local elections, it is estimated it will cost £1 million pounds to implement.

Currently the limit is 15 years so at lowest two general elections will take place during the period you are already allowed to vote...

So no additional cost would need to be incurred whatsoever... Because all the checking of eligibility would need to take place early on not later on when you are permanently entitled to vote under the newly proposed regulations... The only thing needed would be to prove your are still alive... not easy for some!

[sophie]

Groucho, we have already had our letters a few months back from the pension department, asking us to confirm that we are still alive. So that bits done!!