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Shameful - overseas Brits denied the vote in UK Referendum

justiceA decision taken today by the UK’s highest court prevents an estimated 2 million British citizens that have lived overseas for 15 years or more from voting in the Referendum on June 23rd, a referendum that will determine Britain’s future within, or divorced from the European Union.

The Supreme Court upheld earlier rulings in the High Court and the Court of Appeal that dismissed the legal action put before them by solicitors acting for WWII veteran Harry Shindler (pictured below) and Solicitor Jacquelyn MacLennan.

The Supreme Court ruling confirms the ruling that the UK’s voting regulations do not unlawfully interfere with the right of freedom of movement within the EU and that the UK government is entitled to set a time limit on overseas residence after which the right to vote in UK elections and referenda is denied.

The Deputy President of the Supreme Court, Lady Hale, delivered the ruling, “The question is not whether this particular voting exclusion is justifiable as a proportionate means of pursuing a legitimate aim. The question is whether EU law applies.

“We have considerable sympathy with the applicants and the situation in which they find themselves. We understand it’s something which concerns them deeply, but we cannot discern a legal basis for challenging this statute.”

Even if EU law did apply, added Lady Hale, there was no interference with the rights of free movement - therefore the case was dismissed.

This decision upholds the government’s right to deny the vote to 2 million UK citizens living overseas from participating in the crucial Referendum in June.

David Cameron pledged to remove the 15-year rule for overseas Britons wishing to vote in UK elections but has put forward excuses to delay the change in legislation until after the Referendum.

The Conservative government's tardiness is counter-intuitive as a majority of expats living outside the UK but within the EU have expressed the opinion in polls that they will vote to remain in the EU which is Cameron’s objective.

“I hope the government will, at least, keep its promise and change the voting laws for the next general election,” said a disappointed MacLennan.

QC Aidan O’Neill acting for Shindler and MacLennan argued that the current disenfranchisement was “disproportionate” and “penalised” his clients and others for exercising their right of free movement within the EU.

O’Neill also pointed out that the European Union Referendum Act excluded 15 year plus British citizens but gave a vote in the Referendum to “an estimated 1 million individuals who do not hold any form of British citizenship, namely Irish nationals and citizens of Commonwealth countries who happen to be lawfully resident in the UK or Gibraltar at the date of the referendum.”

The British former soldier Shindler, 95, has lived in Italy for 35 years and pays tax on his pension to HM Revenue and Customs yet by living in Italy is not allowed to vote.

Ever upbeat, despite hearing his appeal had been dismissed, Shindler commented that when the 2020 election comes, he and others will be able to vote and he hopes the promised legislation will be in place before his 95th birthday.

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/21d9c53198e46781fd473b984b769801bd633880/0_210_2467_3081/master/2467.jpg?w=140&q=20&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b8bbe5800d867338688e18ad8c2a4605

 

________________________________________________________________

       (on the application of Shindler and another) (Appellants) v Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and another (Respondents)
       UKSC 2016/0105

On appeal from the Court of Appeal Civil Division (England and Wales)

The Supreme Court held an oral hearing of the application for permission to appeal, with the appeal to follow immediately if permission to appeal was granted.

The appellants challenged the lawfulness under EU law of section 2 of the EU Referendum Act 2015 in respect of its exclusion from the EU Referendum franchise British citizens who, in exercise of their EU free movement rights, reside outside the UK and have been resident outside the UK for a period of more than 15 years.

The appellants claim that their disenfranchisement constitutes a unjustified restriction of their EU law rights to move and reside within the territory of the Member States and separately that the common law affords protection to their right to vote as British citizens and full members of the United Kingdom.

The Supreme Court has refused permission to appeal and the Court of Appeal judgement will therefore stand.

Giving the Court's decision, Lady Hale (Deputy President of the Supreme Court) said:

"We should make it clear that the question is not whether this particular voting exclusion is justifiable as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

“The question is instead, firstly, whether European Union law applies at all, as only if it does so is there any possibility of attacking an Act of Parliament; and secondly, if so, whether there is any interference with the right of free movement.

“Assuming for the sake of argument that European Union law does apply, we have decided that it is not arguable that there is an interference with right of free movement, for the reasons given by the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal.

“We do have considerable sympathy for the situation in which the applicants find themselves and we understand that this is something which concerns them deeply. But we cannot discern a legal basis for challenging this statute.

“Accordingly the application for permission to appeal is refused."

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Comments  

0 #13 James Sapsard 2016-05-27 15:53
You can watch the judgment here: https://www.supremecourt.uk/watch/uksc-2016-0105/240516-am.html
0 #12 Ed 2016-05-26 10:44
Quoting dw:
I think the UK government must have some polling data that tells them that 15 year plus expats are actually more likely to vote "out".

This is the odd thing - polls show a 71% majority of expat voters want to stay in. There are no guesstimates for the 15 year + brigade of course as they don't count and have not been asked.
http://www.algarvedailynews.com/features/politics/8911-expats-will-vote-to-stay-in-eu
+2 #11 dw 2016-05-26 10:41
I think the UK government must have some polling data that tells them that 15 year plus expats are actually more likely to vote "out".
0 #10 JanetT 2016-05-25 22:48
Quoting R Sole:
Quoting TerryY:
Thanks for that. No vote yet I am taxed on my UK pension and have not set foot in the country for over 11 years.

The European Union In/Out referendum is the biggest opportunity I now don't have of expressing my opinion.

Still, all those Ozzies and Irish living in London will know the Referendum issues and will be sensible come polling day - won't you lads?


Git!

So you have failed to secure your right to vote in the UK - so whose fault is that?

By the way, the Republic of Ireland is an EU Member State.


The government manages to understand this anomaly and '15 year +' Brits will be able to continue to vote when the legislation goes through later this year. It is just disappointing that we have no vote in the Referendum
+2 #9 JanetT 2016-05-25 22:43
Replying to You First's comments:
I was able to vote in my old constituency for 15 years, after which period I was banned.

I do not want to give up my British citizenship as I am British. Living in another country does not necessarily involve becoming a citizen of that country. In fact I have lived in France, Spain and Portugal since leaving the UK on health grounds so would have been seen as rather flighty if I had been a national in each.

I can only ‘chose to vote’ by returning to the UK on a permanent basis. I did register to vote in the UK when I left, see above, but now may not vote there. In Portugal I am entitled to vote in MEP, council and parish elections but have no parliamentary representation. If I could vote for an MP in Portugal I would be more than happy but I do not want to give up my British citizenship. Nor might I be awarded Portuguese nationality.

Portuguese nationals living in the UK are allowed to vote.
British living in Portugal are not, after 15 years, allowed to vote in the UK and have never been allowed to vote for a local MP in Portugal.

David Cameron pledged to allow us '15 year plus' Britons to continue to vote. This legislation is going through as he at least understands the concept of disenfranchisement. The upset is that we have been prevented from voting in the Referendum while random Irish and Gibraltarians can do so.
-3 #8 R Sole 2016-05-25 22:42
Quoting TerryY:
Thanks for that. No vote yet I am taxed on my UK pension and have not set foot in the country for over 11 years.

The European Union In/Out referendum is the biggest opportunity I now don't have of expressing my opinion.

Still, all those Ozzies and Irish living in London will know the Referendum issues and will be sensible come polling day - won't you lads?


Git!

So you have failed to secure your right to vote in the UK - so whose fault is that?

By the way, the Republic of Ireland is an EU Member State.
0 #7 You First 2016-05-25 22:24
Quoting JanetT:
So I am prevented from voting in Portugal and in the UK from where I came.

Perhaps someone from the Supreme Court, the UK government or the EU could explain to me why I am unable to vote all within the European Union? They can't. I like hundreds and thousands of others have no say at all in this vast un-democratic experiment.


OK - I'll try.

You left your own country and failed to make any arrangement to retain your right to vote there.

You went to another country, lived there for who knows how many years. You have not bothered to seek citizenship there or the right to vote.

The democratic deficit is, therefore, entirely your own. No-one is preventing you from voting - you have chosen not to register to vote.

Dipstick!
+5 #6 Peter Booker 2016-05-25 12:03
If Prime Minister Cameron were secretly wishing to get a vote for Exit, while at the same time conducting his lacklustre campaign to Remain, what would he do different? Just supposing he really wants a Remain vote, you have to say that he is not making a compelling campaign.

I keep myself happy by imagining a vote to Remain, and all the blood on the carpet afterwards when Cameron gets rid of his loopy opponents.
+2 #5 TerryY 2016-05-25 10:32
Thanks for that. No vote yet I am taxed on my UK pension and have not set foot in the country for over 11 years.

The European Union In/Out referendum is the biggest opportunity I now don't have of expressing my opinion.

Still, all those Ozzies and Irish living in London will know the Referendum issues and will be sensible come polling day - won't you lads?
+4 #4 Lord Snootys Pal 2016-05-25 10:16
How is this democratic? Lady Muck can sympathise all she wants but the forgotten few are well bogged off being treated like we don't exist. Come our deaths the UK taxman suddenly becomes bloody interested in our affairs, oh yes. But can we vote in a referendum that will affect us deeply one way or another. Oh no. I have only a few gallons left in the tank but the Referendum vote is the second biggest crucial democratic opportunity I have ever ad, and is is denied me. I voted the UK 'in' in the '70s but now am stuck with a load of Irish and Gibraltarians deciding on my future. I'll tell you me old son, the world's gone crazy.

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