Fiona Govan
IT has been a long battle, but the British government is finally set to overturn a rule that denied the right to vote to Brits who had lived overseas for more than 15 years.
A bill to change the law to allow British nationals living abroad to vote in UK general elections regardless of the length of time spent overseas passed a critical stage in the House of Lords on Thursday.
It marks a victory for campaigners across Europe who have long been calling for the restoration of democratic rights of Brits living abroad.
“I’m delighted our voting rights are another step closer to being restored, especially as my 15 years are up this summer,” Bremain in Spain’s Sue Wilson, who was awarded an MBE for her campaigning, told the Olive Press.
“However, we must stay focused on the prize, as restoring our democratic right to vote is merely the start of this journey. In order to ensure we can have our views truly represented in Westminster at election time, we must push for improvements in voting methods,” she said.
“Too many of our votes were left uncounted at the last election, and during the Brexit referendum. Once those bridges have been crossed, we must campaign for dedicated MPs, who truly understand the issues Brits abroad face,” said Wilson.
Among the most high-profile campaigners is 100-year-old Harry Shindler, a Brit living in Italy, who challenged the 15-year limit taking to the UK courts and the European Court of Justice.
Shindler, who lives in Rome, said: “I am delighted and pleased this is nearly over. We are a democracy, but not a complete democracy while we didn’t have the right to vote.”
Overturning the 15-year rule was a promise made by the Conservative party in three successive election manifestos.
The relevant clauses in the Elections bill have now passed the committee stage in the House of Lords after amendments on this issue were debated but withdrawn.
The bill will now proceed to the report stage where it is scrutinised for any legal loopholes before returning to the House of Commons for a final vote.
READ MORE:
- British expats in Spain and across Europe welcome UK move to scrap 15-year voting rule
- How the fight for the rights of British citizens in Spain continues after Brexit
- BREXIT: Brits unite in fight to extend 90-day allowance in Spain
