Chance to win tea at embassy

THE BRITISH embassy in Paris is offering a typically British prize for people who help encourage other expats to register for a referendum vote today - afternoon tea at the ambassador’s residence.

One winner and their family will be invited to the residence – a magnificent 17th century townhouse next door to the embassy offices and on the same street as the Elysée – in a competition for today’s ‘Overseas Voter Registration Day’.

With a referendum on the UK’s EU membership due at the latest by the end of 2017, and possibly as soon as June this year, the embassy is urging Britons who have a right to take part to make sure they are registered in good time.

An embassy spokeswoman said: “The British Embassy will be tweeting messages showing just how quick and easy it is to register. It really only takes five minutes (the time it takes to make a cup of coffee or eat a croissant) and can be done online now at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

“All we are asking people to do is encourage others to vote by tweeting photos of themselves holding a sign or poster saying #YourVoteMatters and tagging @UKInFrance

“The most creative or unusual image will win – they may be on top of a ski slope or walking through the Catacombs of Paris: the possibilities are endless.”

Contributions should be tweeted by the end of today.

The new British ambassador, Sir Julian King, has taken over from Sir Peter Ricketts this week. An embassy spokesman said they cannot at present guarantee he will be there on the day the winner is invited as this will depend on his diary engagements, which are still being worked out.

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