A summer campaign has been launched to promote the merits of overseas constituencies for UK citizens living abroad.
Over the summer, UK MPs will be receiving postcards from all around the world with messages such as: “I love living and working here and may want to retire here, but I still have very close ties with the UK.”
“If ever you are in town, let’s catch up and mull over the benefits of having an MP whose main role is representing UK citizens abroad.”
The initiative, called “I Wish You Were Here – Then We Could Talk Overseas Constituencies”, is the brainchild of a coalition of organisations, with a global membership.
Overseas constituencies are, it is claimed, a more effective way of representing UK citizens living abroad.
It is used by countries such as France and Italy, often achieving higher voter turnout and an enhanced focus on the priorities of their overseas voters.
If introduced in the UK, British citizens abroad would elect MPs who represent their part of the world in the UK parliament, rather than voting for the MP in the UK constituency they might have left years ago.
Campaigner Tom Brake said: “As MPs take a well deserved break, they should spare a thought for the millions of UK citizens abroad.
“Their views and priorities are often neglected or completely ignored. Establishing overseas constituencies is the best way to ensure their views are no longer marginalised.”
Colleague Ruvi Ziegler said: “British citizens abroad deserve more effective and efficient representation, tailored to their interests and concerns. Overseas constituencies can help close this gap.”
Another campaigner, Bruce Darrington, added: “The mechanics around overseas constituencies also help to ensure that votes will always count, unlike at present in the UK where the majority of overseas postal votes fail to reach the ballot box in time to be counted.”
“Knowing your vote will count, in turn galvanises citizens to register to vote. It is no coincidence that France, which has overseas constituencies, has 1,700,000 registered overseas voters compared to the UK, which has just 191,000.”
Further comment comes from former election agent Jenny Shorten, of Liberal Democrats Abroad.
She told this site: “The current system of voting for Britons living abroad is broken.
“Official reports have been telling governments this for many years, and now MPs themselves have accepted this in a parliamentary select committee review of the last general election. Overseas constituencies are a fair and effective system for representing overseas electors based on where they live now, instead of on the lottery of their last address before they left the UK.”
Imogen Tyreman, Chair of Labour International, adds: “Brits living abroad deserve a voice in Parliament, and a means to raise issues affecting them as a result of policy decisions in the UK, from frozen pensions to recognition of qualifications, to healthcare and beyond.”
Terence Champion Chair, Liberal Democrats Overseas agrees, saying, “The more than 5,500,000 British Citizens living overseas (source – UK Institute for Public Policy Research) need their own M.P.s to represent their very specific concerns, which largely differ from those of domestic UK voters.
“Living overseas means facing some unique issues including frozen pensions, higher education fees, problems with UK bank accounts, spouse visas and complicated voting procedures amongst others.
“We must have our own dedicated M.P.s which will ensure that we are represented and have our voices heard in Parliament. Our issues, properly addressed will add certainty that our needs will be considered in national decision making.”
Organisations in the coalition include: Unlock Democracy, New Europeans UK, British Overseas Voters Forum, Bremain in Spain, Liberal Democrats Abroad, Labour International, Brexpats – Hear Our Voice, and Liberal Democrats Overseas.
