Expatriates Couldn’t Care Less About Britain - Get Over It!

Oh how I laughed when I read a report in the Telegraph about how horrified politicians are that only 13,000, out of an estimated eligible 2.5 million British expats living abroad, are registered to vote in British elections.  The tone of the report was one of disbelief and concern - along the lines of, ‘do these people not know that they can vote, oh how awful?’

No, no my friends – the fact of the matter actually is, expatriates couldn’t care less about Britain – so get over it!  They don’t want to vote in UK elections – why would they and why should they?  They should be allowed to vote in their new nation of choice abroad instead, but not in the country they voluntarily gave up on to move on to bigger and better things!

Brits abroad are abroad because they’re fed up with the UK.  They hate the British weather - not that I’m alleging politicians have much to do with that, but they do on the other hand have a great deal to do with the bleak economic forecast which is just one more item on a long list of reasons why Brits expatriate and go and live elsewhere.  Why, as a Briton living abroad and calling another nation home, would I want to vote in the UK?  I couldn’t give a damn about what happens in Britain – I don’t live there.  The politicians such as Philip Dunne, (conservative MP), who are behind the latest push to capture expat voters really need to be told that Britons abroad are a waste of time in terms of canvassing…and I have proof!

I’m Not the Only Expat Who Couldn’t Care Less

You might believe that I am alone in my thinking that all things great are certainly not British, and that I honestly couldn’t care enough to bother voting in the UK – but I know for a fact that I am not alone. 

Following publication of the piece in the Telegraph there was an on-site outpouring of comment from the expat community, my favourite being: “Having escaped the soviet socialist republic of Europe and having no intention of returning, prefer to let those who remain deal with the corrupt incompetent politicians and 
bureacraps in whatever way they choose.”

What’s more, it’s fairly common knowledge that as an expat you can relatively easily apply for a postal or proxy vote, (we expats are not thick you know)…but seeing as only 13,000 out of 5.5 million Brits living abroad have registered, me thinks very few people care and that they are of the same opinion as me!

It’s Not About Disrespecting Suffrage or Political Franchise

As one who heralds from a democracy and who continues to reside in a democratic nation I understand the absolute importance of the right to vote and would fight to maintain that right for all citizens if needs be.  By choosing not to vote in a nation’s elections because I don’t live in that nation I am actually fully justified because I actually feel I have no right to an opinion.  What does it matter to me – on any real level – which party is elected to power in Britain?  I don’t have the right to an opinion because I am not affected by the elections.  However, I do feel I have a right to an opinion in the nation I call home.  Unfortunately politicians in most nations disagree.

For example, we know of one reader who contacted us and explained that having lived in Germany for decades and totally integrated into life there on every level, (yes, they clear their path and the pavement outside their house of snow before 7am in the winter and no they never hang their washing out to dry on a Sunday), they want to vote in German elections.  However of course, they are not allowed to vote in German elections and despite being impacted personally by local politics, they have no ability and no voice when it comes to affecting or altering what happens.  That is wrong.

Those Who Want an Opinion Will Vote

Anyone living outside of the UK for a short or fixed term who have every intention of returning to Great Britain may very well have vested interests in the future path that Britain takes.  They will want to know which party will get in to power in the coming months because they will be keen to see whether it’s a case of slashing spending, hiking taxes or both depending on who gets in to parliament.  Such people care, such people want an opinion, such people can register to vote if they are eligible and AboutMyVote.co.uk is a great place to start on the registration process.  But please, the rest of us don’t care, so don’t worry about us and don’t start canvassing us!

Philip Dunne Has More Pressing Matters

And finally, as stated one of the politicians behind the push to get expats to vote in British elections is Philip Dunne.  He’s the conservative MP for Ludlow and really, he has more pressing matters to tend to than twisting reluctant expat arms and forcing Britons living abroad to the ballot box.  For example, the people in his constituency are serviced by the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and there are highly controversial plans in place locally to reduce emergency facilities at another hospital within the same primary care trust which will potentially result in RSH being burdened by demands upon it that it will not be able to service.  This could seriously impact people’s lives, cost lives and is a much more critical fight than bothering to bother expats happily living overseas who couldn’t care less about the UK!