What would Brexit mean to you?
Connexion (and the BBC) are keen to hear from expats about the potential impact on their lives
AS BRITAIN’S EU Referendum Bill leaves the House of Lords – with no provision for long-term expats – Connexion (and the BBC) would like to know ‘what would a Brexit mean to you’?
The Report stage in the House of Lords, at which amendments were debated and voted on, has now ended and the bill will have a ‘third reading’ on Monday before it goes back to the House of Commons for the proposed amendments to be reviewed.
Commentators note that due to the Lords having voted to amend the bill so that 16-17-year-olds can take part, the referendum date may be slightly put back.
This is because the UK government has made it clear it does not want to extend the referendum franchise to these younger teenagers. Parliamentary ‘ping-pong’ may therefore ensure, with the bill passing back for forwards between the two houses, making it unlikely the referendum could be held at a very early date.
If the houses cannot agree it could take until June 2016 for the government to force the bill through. The referendum would then have to wait until at least October because it cannot be held until at least four months after the bill becomes law.
What is more if the change does go through, the Electoral Commission has said there could be delays in updating the register to include all 16 and 17-year-olds.
Whenever the poll is finally held, it is now highly unlikely that long-term expats will have a vote in it, as an amendment for them was defeated in the Lords 214 to 116, as opposed to the teenagers’ amendment which was passed by 293 to 211. Various amendments explicitly calling for reports into the effects of a Brexit, or into the result of David Cameron’s negotiations with EU partners also failed.
Many readers have already expressed anger at being left out of a vote which could potentially have such an impact on their lives.
Connexion is keen to talk to British residents of France about what a Brexit would mean to you – both if you feel you support one, despite living on the continent, or if you do not. If you would be interested in talking to us, please email us at news[at]connexionfrance.com (replace [at] with @).
The BBC is also asking expats to tell them what the outcome of the referendum would mean to them at: EU Referendum.
