15-year vote rule left out of speech

TODAY’S official Queen’s Speech to parliament, outlining the British government’s priorities for the years ahead, made no mention of ending the 15-year limit on the expat vote.

However a bill to do so was mentioned in a document online called "Background briefing notes". Connexion is seeking a comment from the government as to why it was not in the main speech.

Despite the fact that ending the limit was a manifesto promise, and was also promised by then Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps in September last year, the measure was not mentioned explicitly in the speech, but is presumably part of a ragbag of items included in the concluding sentence: ‘Other measures will be laid before you’.

The omission may not bode well for a change in the law before the EU referendum vote is held, which would have allowed longer-term expats to take part.

As expected, the speech mentioned the referendum, on which a bill is expected to be introduced to parliament tomorrow.

The Queen said: “My government will renegotiate the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union and pursue reform of the European Union for the benefit of all member states.

“Alongside this, early legislation will be introduced to provide for an in-out referendum on membership of the European Union before the end of 2017.”

Plans for a Votes for Life bill are referred to in the 'briefing' document, which does not say when such a bill will be introduced. It refers to scrapping the 15-year rule, as well as to measures to improve expat registration and voting.

Connexion noted no other measures specifically affecting expatriates, though some such as a pledge to “secure the real value of the state pension so more people live in dignity and security in retirement”, or a promise not to raise income tax rates for the next five years would apply equally to many expats as to UK residents.

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