Campaigners for the rights of expats to play an active part in the democratic process at home also claim that recent law changes are likely to make it even harder for UK citizens who live abroad to vote. Changes to the election laws passed last year reduced the amount of time a British citizen can live abroad and still retain the right to vote in general elections. They also scrapped the annual October deadline for registering, introducing a rolling register instead. This has led to concern that the Government has not done enough to ensure that those eligible are given a voice in the referendum on the single currency, expected in the next Parliament. Vigorous opposition led by Labour supporters abroad and backed by Labour MPs including Denis MacShane forced ministers to climb down and agree that the limit be reduced instead to 15 years, starting in 2002.
British expats are an incredible asset to the nation.
If they have a passport they should be allowed to vote. But those fighting to defend the rights of overseas residents said the new law was unclear and there was no sign that the bureaucratic obstacles to registering would be lifted. They have raised their concerns with ministers in the Lords. The system is extraordinarily complicated. He drew a distinction between expats, mainly in the EU, who were likely to return at some point, and emigrants, who soon lost interest in British affairs.