UK Politics

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Brits living abroad for more than 15 years get vote - BBC News (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 8 months ago by mannycalavera@feddit.uk to c/uk_politics@feddit.uk

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[–] them@lemmy.world 21 points 8 months ago (2 children)

But why? The cut-off was already very generous at 15 years. How can you live outside of a country for that long and still want to have your views represented?

[–] Squizzy@lemmy.world 11 points 8 months ago

I met an American who was a young enough man absolute latest early 30s, he served in the forces and never went back. Every time he could he'd vote. He'd go into the embassy or whatever. He was sitting in my country talking about foreigners in his.

[–] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 5 points 8 months ago

Because this war veteran who didn't know what on earth he was fighting for (apparently to bring votes to Europe?) shamed the government into reversing the decision.

The change follows a long campaign by World War Two veteran Harry Shindler, who left the UK to live in Italy around 40 years ago.

Speaking to the BBC in 2011, he said: "There was a war to bring the vote to the people of Europe. We won the war, but some of the people who took part in the war, me included, are not allowed to vote themselves."

In 2021, he welcomed the news that the government was changing the rules calling it an "important day for freedom".

I agree 15 years is more than plenty and I suspect the reason is purely down to how this will benefit the current party in power. It's also cynically timed close enough to the election that reversing it would seem petty.