The support for freedom of expression that was coupled with the denunciation of terrorism during last weekend’s rally in Paris was phenomenal, but how resilient is it going to be in the face of various forms of intimidation?

Holding pencils and pens skyward in a show of solidarity was one thing, but what now? Freedom of expression remains a tangled and contentious issue with no uniformity of opinion on just how free the freedom should be.

The 2nd December 2014 was an historic day for British ex-patriates. At 12.30 on that day Geoffrey Clifton-Brown M.P. rose from his seat in the House of Commons and proposed a Bill that would give back to 1.5 million expatriates in Europe their Right to Vote. This event alone demonstrates that we had won!

Our case was now before Parliament, and it was made very convincingly.
The Speaker called for opposition - there was none. The Bill now goes forward to be considered again at the next stage on March 6th. I shall be in the House on that day as I was on 2nd December.

A few chapters of this bilingual book, newly launched at the Federação Empresarial de Portugal, presented by its President Antonio Saraiva, with foreword by the President of the Auditing Court of Portugal, Guilherme d’Oliveira Martins. 
It was edited by our author Jack Soifer, supported by co-authors Francisco B.Weinholtz, John Wolf, Stefan de Vylder, Luis Silva, Armindo Palma, Henrique Neto and Viriato Soromenho-Marques.

'Out of sight, out of mind' - Peers debate voting rights and registration of UK expats.

As New Europeans made clear to the Commons Select Committee on Political and Constitutional Reform, there is a job of work to be done to register the UK expat vote.

Please find below a briefing that sets out the Electoral Commission’s work to ensure that British citizens living abroad are registered to vote in advance of the 2015 UK Parliamentary election.

We issued this briefing to all Peers yesterday ahead of today’s short debate secured by Lord Norton of Louth - Increasing the electoral registration of British citizens living abroad. The debate is scheduled for today (Wednesday 26 November) from 3.45pm.

A few chapters of this bilingual book, newly launched at the Federação Empresarial de Portugal, presented by its President Antonio Saraiva, with foreword by the President of the Auditing Court of Portugal, Guilherme d’Oliveira Martins.
It was edited by our author Jack Soifer, supported by co-authors Francisco B.Weinholtz, John Wolf, Stefan de Vylder, Luis Silva, Armindo Palma, Henrique Neto and Viriato Soromenho-Marques.

Following a 10 month inquiry, the Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee has published its findings on voter engagement in the UK.

Key findings include the revelation that the number of non-native EU citizens eligible to vote in Europeans elections in the UK has fallen from 1,043,629 registered EU expat voters in 2009 to only 327,883 in 2014.

Action needed! The 15 year time limit restriction on voting for expatriates is a huge deterrent in getting people to register to vote. The fact that very few expats register to vote is a huge deterrent to politicians to pass a bill removing the limit - A classic chicken and egg situation.
Yet it costs nothing in labour, commitment, money to remove it – why is it not done?  It is important that you take action – see below.