UPDATE 25 JANUARY 2021:

Terry, Julien and the team now have over 400 supporters signed up to back this campaign. The more supporters to sign up with give more weight to both cases so  please consider submitting your details. Read on to see how you can help.

Terry has made us aware of a new campaign for Britons in the EU27 to maintain their EU citizenship and is working with French lawyer and Bremain member Julien Fouchet and his team. Here’s what Terry has to say about the campaign:

Below you can read both the testimony and a newspaper article submitted by one of the plaintiffs, Alice:

You can see from the documents below what information Terry and the team require, how your data will be handled securely and how to join the campaign. Obviously in Spain the document would be Residencia instead of Carte de Sejour.

If you would like to participate, please download the forms from here, complete and send them, along with the necessary supporting documents via email to

eu.britizens@gmail.com

Should you have any queries, please email the team directly on the above address. Bremain would like to wish Terry, Julien and the team every success.

A link to this page will be sent out to Renew supporters shortly via their weekly briefing. To receive it, please sign up here. 

Here’s what Terry wrote in this past week’s Renew Briefing:

With effect 1 February, the RENEW PARTY in Europe is expanding its reach and activities, to reflect and respond to the 27 different countries Remaining in the EU.

As most of you will know, RENEW has agreed among other objectives, oriented within the UK, also to begin re-forging links with the EU.

To that end, a dedicated team is being formed in France, headed up by two Joint Coordinators *.  Further teams will follow, in a Phase 1, including Spain, Italy, Netherlands and Germany.

If any EU based Member or supporter of RENEW feels motivated to help in a low key way, to coordinate information in their own country, please contact: terry.knott@renewparty.org.uk

*Alice Bouilliez, email: esme_bouilliez@hotmail.com

*Paul Fisher, email: paul.fisher@renewparty.org.uk

Europe Day is held on 9 May every year in celebration of peace and unity in Europe. The date marks the anniversary of the historic ‘Schuman declaration‘. At a speech in Paris in 1950, Robert Schuman, the French foreign minister, set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would make war between Europe’s nations unthinkable. Schuman’s proposal is considered to be the beginning of what is now the European Union.

Tragically, the UK was no longer a member state of the European Union for the seventieth anniversary of Schuman’s speech. This Europe Day was, therefore, all the more poignant. The loss was felt by Brits in the EU, EU citizens in the UK and Remainers everywhere. It saddens us that the freedoms we took advantage of, to live, love, work, study & retire in the EU, will be denied to future generations. A message of solidarity and friendship from the ambassadors of all the EU nations to the British people underlined how much we are losing, but also how much there still is to fight for.

On Saturday May 9 this year, inspired by Steve Bray’s #2020MarchForEU virtual March on Parliament, Bremain members celebrated Europe Day. In a break from our usual business, Facebook Group members shared their photographs & memories of the last 4 years of marching, campaigning & waving the EU flag. We marched in rain and sunshine, we held rallies, signed petitions, we wrote letters and e-mails, and we never gave up. And we forged friendships that will continue to unite us across Europe, whatever the next few years bring.

Please view our gallery images. Click to enlarge and simply scroll through.

“Growing blue hair and blowing a whistle!”

“Bremain in Spain – keeping me sane!”

“Would not have missed it for the world”

“As always, great to meet so many lovely kindred spirits and to feel the solidarity!”

“Some amazing memories and lovely friendships”

“Happy Europe Day one and all. Too many photos to choose from!”

“With EU always!” 

On Saturday 7 March, the Bremain Council gathered together for our annual strategy meeting, to discuss every aspect of Bremain business. The most important agenda item was determining our goals, aims and strategies for our short/medium term future. We came up with a comprehensive list for the rest of 2020, and determined that with the unpredictability of Brexit, looking any further ahead at this stage would require a much more powerful crystal ball!

Other topics discussed included council roles and responsibilities, our current campaigns – #Letters2Europe and #VotesForLife, merchandising and fundraising, a membership drive, collaborations with other groups, and regional group activities.

The council also spent time revisiting our website, Facebook group, Facebook pages and Twitter account descriptions to update all relevant information in line with the new post-Brexit landscape, and to reflect our new aims and strategies.

On Sunday 8 March, the council were joined by Bremain in Spain members for our Annual General Meeting. Bremain accounts were introduced, Chair and council members were re-nominated and voted for unanimously, and the Bremain Annual Report was presented.

The Annual Report included details of membership numbers and growth, affiliations, a review of 2019 including our achievements, and our newly agreed goals, aims and strategies for 2020.

Annual Report AGM March 2020

The audience took an active role in the meeting, with animated discussions and lots of questions on a variety of topics including: Votes for Life campaign suggestions, merchandising ideas, sponsorship, expanding newsletter readership and extending our reach in Spain. All attending members then joined the council for lunch in the garden, where the discussions continued in the sunshine.

Thank you to all those that attended, for your ongoing support, and for the great feedback we received following the event – you helped make it an enjoyable, interesting and successful afternoon. See you next year!

Many thanks to Jim Westlake who took all the photos. 

Campaigning to restore the lifelong right to vote for all UK citizens overseas

Prior to 1985, British citizens living overseas did not have the right to vote. The Representation of the People Act 1985 enabled overseas citizens to vote in the constituency where they had previously lived, but only for a period of five years. That was extended to twenty years in 1989 but reduced to fifteen years in 2000, a limit which still applies today.

It is estimated that around 3 million Britons, of an estimated 4.9 million living overseas, have been denied the right to vote due to the fifteen year rule. 

Many other democracies allow their overseas citizens Votes for Life, something about which Bremain in Spain members feel very strongly. Many were disenfranchised during the EU referendum vote which created a significant impact and uncertainty on their daily lives in their adopted country. Many UK citizens in Europe moved abroad for many different reasons but with the understanding that they could due to Freedom of Movement. Many UK citizens overseas still pay UK taxes, have family and/or close connections to the UK and care deeply about the UK national interest.

Political Background

The three main political parties in the UK have differing opinions on Votes for Life, with the Labour Party maintaining silence on the subject in the last three elections.

The Liberal Democrats 2019 manifesto declared that it will “Enable all UK citizens living abroad to vote for MPs in separate overseas constituencies, and to participate in UK referendums.”. 

In the 2019 General Elections, the Conservative party manifesto included the following:

“We will make it easier for British expats to vote in Parliamentary elections and get rid of the arbitrary 15-year limit on their voting rights “ (Conservative Party manifesto, ‘Get Brexit Done’, Dec 2019, p.48).

It was also included in the 2010, 2015 and 2017 manifestos and to date, this has not been delivered.

Campaign

We have prepared a template letter for you to write or email your MP. Please remember to include your full name and current address, as well as quoting the postcode for your last address in the UK – this will verify your eligibility to communicate with your MP as a constituent. There are also downloadable memes which you can tweet or share on social media. Please ‘Like’ our Campaign Facebook Page to keep up with the latest news.

We’re thrilled that Harry Shindler MBE and the following organisations have given their backing to our Votes for Life Campaign 2020:

98 year old Harry Shindler MBE, has been campaigning for the restoration of voting rights for over 20 years . Following his recent trip to London and his discussions in Westminster, he told our Chair, Sue Wilson that he was informed by politicians, “Harry – you will get your vote”. Harry went on to say, “I am confident that we will secure the vote, but we must never let up! We must keep up the fight until everything is safe. Voting rights are an integral part of our democracy. I fully support Bremain in Spain in their endeavours”.

Richard Wilson, Chair of Grassroots for Europe, said, “An important task for the grassroots movement, over the coming months, will be to hold the government to their promises. Those promises include a commitment to restore voting rights to the disenfranchised Brits in the EU. We therefore fully support Bremain in Spain’s Votes for Life campaign”.

Hugo Mann, CEO of European Movement UK, said “Boris Johnson has proven time and time again that he cannot be trusted to protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU. It’s vital that we do everything that we can to ensure that, as the people most affected by Brexit, their voices are heard”.

Naomi Smith, CEO Best for Britain, said “Around 3.6 million EU citizens have made their lives in the UK and more than a million British people have chosen to live in Europe. We say give all British citizens and EU citizens resident in the UK an equal say in elections that affect their lives.”

Debbie Williams – Founder – Brexpats-Hear Our Voice 

“All British citizens who move abroad should remain part of the democratic process in the United Kingdom. We have already seen the fall out when they have not been allowed a say in a political process that directly affects their lives. We at BHOV support this excellent campaign.” 

Elena Remigi – Founder – In Limbo

“In Limbo wholeheartedly supports this campaign for the right of UK citizens to carry on voting regardless of how many years they have lived overseas. Living abroad does not mean one loses interest for one’s own country, especially when certain decisions have a direct impact on one’s future, such as the decision to leave the EU.”

Leigh Chandler – Campaign Spokesman – Remain in France Together (RIFT)

“Many hundreds if not thousands of UK citizens living in France have already lost, or will lose, their right to vote in the UK once they have lived overseas for 15 years. RIFT has always championed the right to vote for life, regardless of where you now call home. We wholeheartedly support Bremain in its Votes for Life campaign to address the right to vote for all.”

Emmy van Deurzen Founder of Voices for Europe “

Voices for Europe are delighted to endorse this campaign for votes for life for Brits who live abroad. 

It is now vital for all mobile Brits, as it is for mobile EU citizens, to have a say on their future.”

Roger Casale, CEO New Europeans

“It is good news that the Government has promised to extend voting rights to Britons abroad, even though we deplore the introduction of stricter immigration rules and fewer rights for EU citizens already in the UK. This campaign is needed in order to make sure it delivers on that promise.” 

The New European have recently just written a comprehensive story about the loss of voting rights amongst Britons living overseas which you can read here. In most European counties, British citizens can no longer vote in either general or local elections. However, thanks to a bilateral agreement between Spain and the UK, we can still participate in local elections in Spain.

Campaign Tool Kit

MEMES – Memes for you to download and share across social media. 

A simple way to email your MP is through Write to Them – Making it easy to write to the politicians who represent you – even if you don’t know who they are. You can find the website HERE – https://www.writetothem.com/

SOCIAL MEDIA
Please ‘Like’ and ‘Follow’ the Votes for Life Facebook page HERE – @votesforlife2020
You can also use the hashtag #votesforlife on Twitter

Update 16 March 2020

Bremain in Spain recently raised the issue of Votes for Life with the British Embassy in Madrid, & have received this response:

“The UK government intends to scrap the rule that prevents British citizens who have lived abroad for more than 15 years from participating in UK parliamentary elections. They recognise that many British citizens retain deep ties to the UK and they are therefore committed to implementing votes for life before the next scheduled general election in 2024. An announcement on the government’s plans will be made in due course”.

We appreciate that under the current circumstances, that other important priorities are the focus, but be assured that we will continue to raise this issue at every suitable opportunity to ensure the government keeps its manifesto promises.

On Saturday 19 October, Bremainers again marched in London to demand a #FinalSay on Brexit.

They travelled from far and wide to make their voices heard. They were accompanied by those who could not be there but have supported the march… featured on our flags!”

Watch the march in London as it happened

This is what the ‘Will of the People’ looks like now!