British nationals living abroad were urged to send their MPs postcards this summer as part of a campaign for dedicated MPs representing voters overseas.
British nationals living abroad were urged to send their MPs postcards this summer as part of a campaign for dedicated MPs representing voters overseas.
British nationals living abroad were urged to send their MPs postcards this summer as part of a campaign for dedicated MPs representing voters overseas.
Campaigners say there’s growing recognition in the UK parliament of the need for an MP whose main role is representing Brits living abroad and the “unique issues” they face – with a similar system already used in several EU countries.
And while MPs get countless emails, a coalition of international citizens’ rights groups has asked voters to send a postcard about the issue instead.
READ ALSO: Campaign group for British overseas voters to hold first European meeting in Italy
“As MPs take a well deserved break, they should spare a thought for the millions of UK citizens abroad,” said Tom Brake, CEO of campaign group Unlock Democracy.
“Their views and priorities are often neglected or completely ignored. Establishing overseas constituencies is the best way to ensure their views are no longer marginalised.”
The postcard campaign was “a way to show MPs who and where we are – although we don’t all live in picture postcard tourist spots,” said Clarissa Killwick, representing pan-European citizens’ rights group Brexpats – Hear Our Voice.
“I live in Italy which has overseas MPs. They’ve helped bring about important changes such as improved consular services,”
“It is also a two-way street – for example, reducing over-punitive taxes has made Italians abroad more inclined to pay them.”
Campaigner Clarissa Killwick sends her postcard from Italy to her MP in the UK. Photo courtesy of Clarissa Killwick.
Under the proposed system, UK citizens abroad would elect MPs who represent their part of the world in the UK parliament, rather than voting for the MP in the UK constituency they might have left years ago.
Italian citizens living abroad elect a total of 12 overseas parliamentarians – eight MPs and four senators. That accounts for two percent of the total number of seats in parliament.
In France, 11 MPs are elected to the Assemblée nationale whose role is to represent the interests of French citizens living overseas – they each represent a ‘constituency’ such as French people in northern Europe.
This type of representation often results in higher voter turnout and more focus on issues affecting overseas voters, according to the groups backing the campaign.
Terence Champion, Chair of Liberal Democrats Overseas, said: “The more than 5,500,000 British citizens living overseas need their own MPs to represent their very specific concerns, which largely differ from those of domestic UK voters.
“Living overseas means facing some unique issues including frozen pensions, higher education fees, problems with UK bank accounts. spouse visas and complicated voting procedures, amongst others.”
The issue of overseas constituencies was also among several topics to be discussed by the British Overseas Voters Forum (BOVF) at its inaugural meeting set to be held in Milan on September 9th.
Organisations backing the campaign include: Unlock Democracy, New Europeans UK, British Overseas Voters Forum, Bremain in Spain, Liberal Democrats Abroad, Labour International, Brexpats – Hear Our Voice, and Liberal Democrats Overseas.