Political parties in the UK, anxious to attract voters for the May general election, have been filling the airwaves with promises. But not all have given consideration to expat votes.
The Conservative Party has said it would restore the right to vote for British citizens for life. This is dependent on it winning the election.
The Tory manifesto, launched on Tuesday, states: “We will complete the electoral register, by working to include more of the five million Britons who live abroad. We will introduce votes for life, scrapping the rule that bars British citizens who have lived abroad for more than 15 years from voting.”
The Liberal Democrats conference last spring adopted a policy commitment to "explore the viability of overseas constituencies such as those used in some other European countries".
Its manifesto, published today, says it will “explore options to strengthen and simplify the voting rights of UK citizens living abroad and address disenfranchisement experienced by some.”
The party did not, however, address the issue of the 15-year rule.
The so-called 15 year rule prevents an estimated one million British expats from being able to vote because they have lived overseas for that amount of time.
The Labour Party did not address the question of expat voting rights at all. Ukip also ignored the issue.
The European Commission last year said that the UK is “punishing” its expats for leaving the country by denying them voting rights.
