‘Thanks for not voting for me’ says Briton In France

William Tobin told Connexion: “The number that heeded Mr de Pfeffel Johnson’s call to vote for him was 25,351, whereas the number that heeded my call not to vote for me was 70,369.”

Mr Tobin, 66, a retired physics lecturer, stood under the slogan “don’t vote for Tobin, let Tobin vote” and said that, with just five votes, he obtained 2019’s lowest score.

A keen Remainer, he had invited supporters to vote for other Remain-oriented parties, not for him, and to urge all candidates to end the 15-year limit on expatriate votes.

He was able to stand, despite having lost his vote for living out of the UK for more than 15 years, by obtaining 10 support signatures in the constituency and designating a friend’s house as his constituency office.

“More seriously, I trust the Tories will finally and rapidly enact their Votes for Life promise, repeated in their 2019 manifesto,” he said. “The government has signed reciprocal post-Brexit voting agreements for local elections with Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain. I hope these are extended to other countries, both inside and outside the EU.”

He said it was “quite an experience” to stand in the election and he wished to thank friends and family, and those who donated to a crowdfunder towards his expenses. “Meeting citizens at the doorstep and on the street was an eye-opener. I met many foreign nationals thirsty for voting rights.”

See also: Briton in France stands against PM Boris Johnson