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Letters: An MP for expats

Source: The Guardian

Nov 04, 2009

Summary

I am afraid Giles Tremlett (Give a Commons seat to the member for Costa del Sol, 2 November) is on a hiding to nothing. We expats have always been regarded as slightly disloyal. If we insist on living in other countries – probably warmer ones with better food – we can't expect to have a say in the government of our less-favoured relations at home.

The French and the Americans take a different view. As France – if you are French – or the US – if you are an American – is clearly the best country in the world, your compatriots who have the misfortune not to live there should at least have the consolation of voting in national elections. For the record, UK expats only had the vote for five years after leaving the country until Mrs Thatcher – assuming most of them were Tories – upped it to 20. Tony Blair then lowered it to 15, presumably for the same reason. I am afraid this is the best deal we are likely to get.

Henry Wickens

Luxembourg

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