Written evidence submitted by Adrian Milne
REPRESENTATION TO
PARLIAMENT (VOTING
POWERS) OF
EXPATRIATES
1. I am a correspondent to Pensioners Debout,
and have been told of your meeting on this subject on Wednesday
13 October.
2. It is desirable that all expatriates have
the right as a British citizen, permanently to express their opinion
through the ballot box in British National elections.
3. My circumstances are: I am a retired Metropolitan
Police Officer, having worked the final three years of my service
in the Palace of Westminster. I was medically discharged in 1985,
and moved to France. I remain in contact with the UK and its politics
through British TV, and still have family living there. As an
ex-government employee I am obliged to pay my taxes at source
in the UK, yet I am denied the right to vote on their use. It
seems illogical to me that the UK should fight wars in other countries
to promote democracy, but deny voting rights to its own citizens.
4. I am conscious that within the EU Britain
along with Ireland are exceptional in not allowing representation
to our National Government. Our National Government is responsible
for all agreements with the EU and our country of residence (France)
in our name, but after 15 years we have no right to express our
feelings and be represented.
5. It would be appropriate to be represented
in the same manner as French nationals who live in Britain, with
members directly elected to their Assembly in Paris.
6. I am concerned about Britain's relationship
within the EU and feel that correct full permanent representation
for the expatriates can only do good.
October 2011
| 
