Votes for expat Britons Campaign

The last breakdown of statistics was circulated at the end of August 2013 when there were 2,906 supporters from 62 different countries. 

There now are 3,116 supporters from 64 different countries, welcome on board both Lebanon & Tajikstan, I wonder where they heard about us from!?

Significant increase +% changes, by individual countries, have been ....

PETITIONS:-

1.  To sign the parliamentary representation for expatriates petition;

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43238 currently standing at 2,207 signatures. This petition closes on 02.01.14. The minister responsible is Chloe Smith MP - Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform. Contact details chloe.smith@parliament.uk

2.  To sign the Stop the Governments victimisation of pensioners living abroad who have contributed to the welfare state by withdrawing their winter fuel payment petition;

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/52121 currently standing at 12,312 signatures and we now all await with great interest the response from the UK Government. Refer to; 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19583777 This petition closes on 28.06.14. The minister responsible is Steve Webb MP - Minister of State for Pensions. Contact details; webbs@parliament.uk

3. To sign the new Create MPs for expatriates similar to the French model petition; http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/55085currently standing at 741 signatures. This petition closes on 13.09.14.

TO CONTACT YOUR LAST MP. (provided, of course,  you still have one and haven´t yet been disenfranchised!) http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/

PROGRESS REPORTS:-

• Harry Shindler - Unfortunately Harry´s appeal to the ECHR - European Court of Human Rights was turned down. No reasons were given for this decision and there is no further appeal procedure possible to the ECHR. Harry has vowed to continue with his campaign for the right to vote in the UK national elections and Referendums and intends, amongst other actions available,  to petition the United Nations as he also believes that his disenfranchisement is in violation of the Universal Charter of Human Rights (Art.21). We now wait to hear from Harry´s Solicitor / Avvocato, Charlotte Oliver  of Italian law firm Oliver & Partners, Rome; http://www.oliverpartners.it/shindler-case-will-not-be-referred-to-the-echr-grand-chamber/ regarding further instructions
• European Union (Referendum) Bill 2013 - 2014 introduced by James Wharton MP as a private members Bill - Various amendments to the Bill have been tabled and a full update can be found at; http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/europeanunionreferendum.html Please also see; http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmpublic/europeanunionref/130904/pm/130904s01.htm. The date of the next Parliamentary stage, "The Report Stage," has yet to be decided
• All Party working Group on Voting Abroad, chaired by Lord Norton of Louth. A report is due this autumn and confirm Brian Cave contacted Lord Norton on 11.07.13, and again on 23.09.13 to seek information.

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS:-

• Viviane Reding meeting in Marseilles 14th November - As previously advised there will be a meeting entitled, "Citizen Dialogue in Marseilles" with Viviane Reding, Vice President and Commissioner for Justice, and Citizens Rights in the European Union involving a discussion with citizens. You can join in yourselves online at http://ec.europa.eu/debate-future-europe/citizens-dialogues/france/marseille/index_en.htm

•  or better still maybe you can attend in person? It is expected that amongst those attending, on our behalf, will be Christopher Chantrey, Paris who attended Harry Shindler´s recent meeting with Viviane Reding at the EC Brussels on 5th September. To view Viviane Reding´s "Citizen Dialogue" schedule with dates and locations; http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/reding/index_en.htm

• Margaret Hales meeting in Warsaw 3rd October - Margaret will be meeting with Brit Expats now living in Poland to spread the word about our campaign and to rally further support from within the British community. If you wish to attend, or know Brits living in Poland who may wish to, then contact Margaret directly at margaretgeraldhales@gmail.com

WHERE TO FIND US:-

Votes For Expat Brits team: www.votes-for-expat-brits.com

Blog: www.votes-for-expat-brits-blog.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Voting_Rights

OTHER ISSUES:-

Please also read;   http://pensionersdebout.blogspot.fr/ Brian Cave will be more than pleased and delighted to hear from and assist people who have problems with issues concerning Double Taxation Treaties & Health & Care and any other problems; lefourquet@orange.fr

Once again, please forward this mail to all your friends, families and other contacts, thank you. If you were forwarded this mail and wish to go on our regular mailing list please contact graham.richards@orange.fr