Around two million British citizens who have been living abroad for more than 15 years can now vote in UK general elections, following a rule change by the Conservative government.
BBC News asked four expats if they will cast their ballots.“I deserve to have a say in what’s going on,” 76-year-old Valerie Stacey says from her home in central Madrid.
The former English teacher is one of the 100,000 British citizens based overseas for more than 15 years who have already applied to vote, external following the change in rules.
They can apply online to vote by post, by proxy, or in person if they are in the country on 4 July.Although she has lived in Spain since the early 1980s, Valerie has strong views on the NHS and social care in the UK.
Jim made the grassland plains between Northern Victoria and New South Wales his home following a backpacking holiday in 2006, and despite taking a keen interest in British politics, does not intend to return to the UK.
It argued that 15 years was a “reasonable and proportionate amount of time for someone to retain a vote” and said the rule change would make it easier for wealthy donors who have not lived in the UK for decades to contribute.The Conservative government said that British citizens overseas retain deep ties to their country, external, and are affected by policy decisions in areas like immigration, defence or pensions.Others, like Belgium-based Daniel Allingham feel conflicted about having a right to vote in an election which will not directly impact them.
The original article contains 826 words, the summary contains 261 words. Saved 68%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Around two million British citizens who have been living abroad for more than 15 years can now vote in UK general elections, following a rule change by the Conservative government.
BBC News asked four expats if they will cast their ballots.“I deserve to have a say in what’s going on,” 76-year-old Valerie Stacey says from her home in central Madrid.
The former English teacher is one of the 100,000 British citizens based overseas for more than 15 years who have already applied to vote, external following the change in rules.
They can apply online to vote by post, by proxy, or in person if they are in the country on 4 July.Although she has lived in Spain since the early 1980s, Valerie has strong views on the NHS and social care in the UK.
Jim made the grassland plains between Northern Victoria and New South Wales his home following a backpacking holiday in 2006, and despite taking a keen interest in British politics, does not intend to return to the UK.
It argued that 15 years was a “reasonable and proportionate amount of time for someone to retain a vote” and said the rule change would make it easier for wealthy donors who have not lived in the UK for decades to contribute.The Conservative government said that British citizens overseas retain deep ties to their country, external, and are affected by policy decisions in areas like immigration, defence or pensions.Others, like Belgium-based Daniel Allingham feel conflicted about having a right to vote in an election which will not directly impact them.
The original article contains 826 words, the summary contains 261 words. Saved 68%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!