Bremainers Ask ……. Zoe Gardner

Bremainers Ask ……. Zoe Gardner

Aug 29, 2025 | Bremainers Ask, News

Zoe is an independent researcher, campaigner and commentator on immigration and asylum policy in the UK and Europe. She regularly contributes to political and media debates promoting a positive, evidence-backed alternative vision of how to manage migration well for the benefit of all. She has previously worked for the European Network on Statelessness, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Asylum Aid, the Race Equality Foundation and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles.

Ruth Woodhouse : What is your opinion of the recently-agreed “one-in-one-out” migrant deal between the UK and France?

Cooperation with France – and the rest of Europe – is absolutely necessary in order to resolve the small boats issue and manage the arrival of refugees in the UK safely and humanely, so it is a necessary first step that Starmer has entered into serious negotiation with Macron. The positive side of this is the acceptance on the UK side that not only are there refugees in France with ties to the UK who need to make their way here, but also that they need a safe and regulated way to make that journey, which they have lacked until now. That is the bare minimum that needs to be accepted and used as a basis for developing a safe route for asylum seekers.

However, unfortunately that’s where the good news stops. I fear that, in their haste to produce something that looks tough for the British news cycle this summer, they have jumped the gun on announcing this inadequate deal. The ‘one-in-one-out’ part is an immediate red flag – anybody coming safely to the UK therefore depends on another person risking their life and being detained and deported, which makes the whole thing a circus. If it ever were to fully work, then it would immediately stop working again, because if no one were crossing the Channel anymore, there would be no more safe routes available either, leaving us back where we started. The safe route to the UK must be put in place on the basis of need, not a reciprocal trade in human beings. The Dublin Regulation, when we were a part of it, suffered from problems too, which meant that the numbers of people sent back and forth essentially always stayed quite low – administering these schemes in line with the law is difficult and time consuming, and the numbers we’re talking about for this ‘pilot’ are simply not going to touch the sides of the issue.

How significant has Brexit been in the increase in “small boats”?

Brexit is both the cause of the small boats’ arrival, and also not! Before we left the EU, people entered the UK irregularly from France in significant numbers, provoking a great deal of political opposition. However, since Brexit, the preferred route for making that journey has changed to small boats, and the numbers have somewhat increased.

Pre-Brexit we were part of the EU-wide Dublin Regulation which meant that anyone apprehended making an irregular crossing from France could be returned there from the UK and anyone with family ties to the UK in other parts of Europe could apply to rejoin them here through safe means. The system was clunky at best, operating slowly and depending on the good will and cooperation of many different border force and asylum agencies across different countries. Essentially, only a couple of thousands of people per year at most were ever sent back and forth in and out of the UK through the Dublin mechanism. Mostly, people who arrived here had their claims processed here, despite irregular arrivals, similarly to now.

However, with Brexit, there was no longer any need to conceal the crossing itself from UK authorities – being “caught in the act” of entering from France no longer meant you would be subject to return to France because with Brexit we left the Dublin convention. This meant asylum seekers and smugglers abandoned the use of lorries and trucks and adopted a much more visible way of travelling to the UK – the small boats. Ironically, although still very dangerous, this is actually a somewhat safer way of making the crossing than travelling in trucks and lorries, because you are guaranteed to come to the attention of the authorities quickly and likely to be rescued – less likely to suffocate in the back of a lorry.

The fact that the crossings are now so much more visible has been a disaster from the political perspective, because asylum seekers in a boat create a visceral image, whereas asylum seekers milling around Calais lorry ports do not in the same way.

In addition, now that we are no longer a part of the Dublin system, we have become a destination of last resort for asylum seekers if they have their claim refused in another European country. If you are refused asylum in one Dublin Regulation country, you cannot apply in any other. But you still can in the UK, so there are families seeking to reach us now because they have exhausted their application rights in the rest of Europe and know that we will at least have to assess their claim individually again. In this way, Brexit has increased the numbers of asylum seekers in the UK somewhat, which is clear in the fact that numbers here are still very high, while they have been dropping in the rest of Europe over the last few years.

Rejoining the EU would be good for a lot of reasons, but it would not make asylum seekers in the UK disappear, and would not simply allow us to immediately remove everybody back to the first EU country of entry – the system is more complex and poorly managed than that. And the EU very much has its own significant failures in how it manages the arrival of refugees. We would need to take the lead in changing the European approach to one of solidarity, compassion and responsibility-sharing, whether from within or without.

Steve Wilson : Which countries – if any – have an immigration policy that you respect and would recommend as a model for the UK?

Tragically few. Although looking across other systems, there are areas where some countries do things better, and other areas where they perhaps do things worse.

Spain has a very poor approach to managing the border and the accommodation of child asylum seekers, but they have a very positive overall outlook towards immigration and work. Asylum seekers in Spain are given Spanish language and integration classes and matched with training opportunities in areas of the economy that are struggling to recruit workers. Spain has significantly increased immigration into work in the last several years and is reaping the economic benefits – its economy growing much faster than any other European country including the UK. Even in far more immigration-sceptical Italy, visa pathways for migrant workers are being expanded significantly to meet the demands of their ageing population.

The Spanish government also has a clear and morally robust rhetoric around immigration, explaining how Europe’s ageing populations cannot continue to support themselves without immigration and refusing to bow to pressures of racist rhetoric, as so many other European leaders have.

Spain has also pursued a number of regularisation programmes to bring undocumented migrant workers into the formal economy and give them the paperwork to allow them to stay legally and contribute to the country. This has been a huge success.

Both Spain and Portugal also have citizenship systems that recognise the ties created by their colonial pasts – immigrants from ex-colonies have faster pathways to settlement and citizenship in recognition of their cultural ties to the country.

France still has a system that recognises those born on French soil who have never lived anywhere but France as automatically eligible for French citizenship. We in the UK abandoned that sensible approach for racist reasons in the 1980s.

While Germany is not an example at the current time, the efforts they made to welcome large numbers of Syrian refugees a decade ago are having positive impacts today, with a significant majority of them in work and well-integrated, especially in areas where support for integration and language learning was provided, bringing in a positive contribution to the German economy according to latest economic reports.

These are all ideas the UK could benefit from considering.

Valerie Chaplin : How can the Government speed up the asylum process?

Instead of fast-tracking refusals – which will inevitably clog up the appeals process and risks sending people from largely safe places where they may have been individually targeted back to situations of danger, we should fast-track acceptance of asylum claims from people from manifestly unsafe countries like Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. Let these people start rebuilding their lives quickly, after some light touch formal checks rather than a two-year process of limbo.

 

David Eldridge : Despite evidence to the contrary, the right wing media still repeat the same tired lies about refugees and immigration. How do we get the truth out there and stop the constant repetition of lies and misinformation?

They are extremely well funded, with money coming into the likes of GBNews and Reform UK from the world’s richest men. On the other ‘side’ we have volunteers, charitable foundations, and the dust where progressive political voices ought to be. We should take heart that despite this incredible discrepancy in resources, the British public is still decent in its politics around immigration – our side is punching above its weight.

But at a time like this, where we face the very serious threat of a descent into extremism, with the abandoning of all the post-war international treaties that protect our human rights, we all have a responsibility to do everything we can.

Every time and every way that we have to raise our voices we must do so, especially those of us who are protected from much of the immediate danger by our white skin and British passports. A lie can be repeated enough times that it starts to sound true, it is our job to repeat the truth even more times than that.

Helen Johnston : Do you have confidence in any of the major political parties to change the debate on migration and freedom of movement?

I have lost faith in Labour under this leadership. The Greens, LibDems, Plaid Cymru, SNP, and potentially the new left party being cobbled together by Corbyn and Sultana are all places where progressive politics on migration are still being heard. We must not give an inch in those spaces and continue to show politicians the example of what a brave, principled position that can push the Overton Window back away from the far-right looks like.

Every one of those parties is still lacking the bravery to take a stand, cut through the noise and seize control of the narrative on immigration, although if Zack Polanski wins the Green leadership I believe we’ll have a better shot than before with that.

 

Anonymous : When faced with so much hate, delusion and misinformation in debates on immigration, how do you manage to stay so calm and in control?

I seethe on the inside, even during interviews where I appear pretty calm. My friends, colleagues, and family are there for me to express my emotions and give me support in particularly difficult times. But it’s important for me to remember that I am speaking on behalf of so many people – not only the migrants who are subjected to such an onslaught of lies but also the good people all over this country who support a humane and realistic approach to managing immigration. I am not the one under attack, I am one of the people standing shoulder to shoulder to protect those who are, and that gives me strength.

I have been doing interviews on this topic for a long time, it is difficult to shock me, and very difficult indeed to come up with an argument on immigration that I have never thought about before. I am very much convinced that the side of humanity is the right one, and that we can and will create a system of immigration that respects people’s rights and works well for the UK. It is a fantasy to believe we can stop people from moving, no matter how awful we try to be – people have always and will always move. Our only choice is how to manage it, and so I’m unflustered by politicians and commentators who are selling fairy tales about making it stop. The important thing is to keep trying to get our message across.

 

Barbara Leonard : What do you suggest is the best way (and place) for us to challenge the strong wave of ‘othering’ that drives sales of papers like the Mail and clicks on social media? 

This will be different for everyone, but there are ways each and every single one of us can and must try to make a difference. Writing to your MP is something we should all get used to doing. If you are part of a church, mosque, synagogue or other, a community group, or sports team, or a school or university community, there are resources available to help you start a conversation about the political times we live in and what can be done to help.

In almost every town in the UK there are befriending and welcome groups of volunteers who are helping to make newcomers feel safe and at home. These networks and communities and the love and solidarity we show one another through them are something that cannot be taken away by right wing rhetoric or even the seizing of power by the right in politics.

We are stronger and more numerous than the forces that seek to divide us and each one of us taking small actions in our own ways is everything we can and must do.

When it comes to taking action, don’t ever think even just a conversation with a family member, or a tiny donation, or whatever it may be, is too small. The only thing that is unacceptable in these days is to do nothing at all. Every time we do the small things we can do in our families, friendship groups, communities or on the national stage if we have it, we are fighting for the world that is more equal that is coming and shaping the future that we are going to all live in.

Those of us who feel able must also make our voice heard in protest. I have been participating in a number of protests over the last months but I am hoping that we will have a really big opportunity to make the voice of decency heard against all the far-right politics that are represented by Donald Trump: I hope everyone reading this will join the demonstration against his state visit, gathering at 2pm at Portland Place in London on Wednesday 17th September!

Next month

Edwin Hayward is an author and political commentator, probably best known for his book ‘Slaying Brexit Unicorns’, in which he debunks many of the myths surrounding Brexit.

His work has appeared in Byline Times and The New European/World and many other publications. Edwin is also active on Bluesky and X, where he comments regularly on British politics and Brexit, with his own brand of sarcasm and gallows humour.

If you wish to submit a question for Edwin, please email us no later than noon on Monday 8 September.

Resisting the Trump assault: will American democracy survive and what can we do to help?

Resisting the Trump assault: will American democracy survive and what can we do to help?

Aug 14, 2025 | Bylines, News

Trump’s assault on democracy is real and escalating – Europe should be alarmed, warns ex-diplomat Alex Hall Hall in a recent webinar, writes Bremain Treasurer Helen Johnston for Yorkshire Bylines.
 

 

On 8 July, Grassroots for Europe hosted a webinar on the current state and future of government and democracy in the USA, and the knock-on implications for Europe. The key speaker was Alex Hall Hall, a former diplomat who made waves when she resigned from the Foreign Office in December 2019, because she felt unable to represent the UK’s position on Brexit with integrity. She was joined in the webinar by former MEP Richard Corbett, who led the UK Labour Group in the European Parliament.

Be afraid. Be very, very afraid

Alex drew parallels between events in America and the situation in Georgia, where she was ambassador. Pointing out that democratic collapse can happen faster than we think, she believes American democracy is like the frog boiling in water, and not enough Americans fully understand the gravity of what is happening.

The administration is chaotic and disorganised, with people appointed for loyalty rather than competence. For example, a source told Alex there is no systematic national security process, with proper briefing papers and meetings. Senior national security officials often simply try to grab the attention of the president, vice president or cabinet ministers as they walk by in the corridors of the White House, to try to get them to focus on a policy issue. Individual cabinet ministers and senior political appointees are also scared to take decisions without official blessing from Trump.

Executive overreach

The White House is churning executive orders out at an unprecedented rate, making huge administrative decisions with no congressional oversight. Trade policy, budget matters, and decisions on war, including arguably the decision to bomb Iran, are the domain of Congress, but the executive is trampling over its normal legislative powers, with little or no meaningful opposition from the Republican dominated legislature.

Meanwhile, the judiciary branch’s authority to check whether the president’s actions are constitutional or legal is also being weakened. Although almost all cases against executive orders have been won by the challengers, the administration is simply ignoring court orders. So, for example, despite orders saying people may not be deported without due process, the deportations are still happening.

Attacks on institutions

It’s not just the major branches of Congress and the judiciary that are under attack. Numerous semi-independent bodies set up by Congress to oversee the operations of the executive are being dismantled or sidelined – such as inspectors general, judges advocate in the military, labour boards, ethics watchdogs, etc.

Scientific and medical bodies are being disbanded, auditing authorities dismissed, or asked not to produce reports. There are attacks on universities, law firms which take up cases against the administration, and the media, all repeatedly threatened with budget cuts or lawsuits unless they comply with the administration’s demands.

For example, recently, the government has suggested it will attack CNN for reporting on a new app that tells people when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are in their area, accusing CNN of enabling people to resist law enforcement. It has slashed funding to public broadcasters and to highly regarded independent organisations like the National Endowment for Democracy, Radio Free Europe, and the US Institute for Peace.

Lack of resistance

There’s been astonishingly little resistance. There is public opposition, but the elites, Congress members and business leaders in the private sector, who should know better, are either going along with it or keeping their heads down. There has been no organised resistance from the university sector to the attacks on them, including on Harvard University, Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, who are fighting their own battles while others are hoping they won’t be next in the firing line.

Republicans are utterly cowed and running scared. Some have just decided to step down and no longer fight, while others, like Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski, say this is all very inappropriate, and then vote with the administration. Meanwhile, the Democrats have no unified strategy for resistance and bureaucrats are terrified of losing their jobs. They have to sign loyalty pledges and are ordered to report on colleagues if they support woke policies.

The Supreme Court has shown it is willing to give the executive extensive leeway, and has made a few astonishing decisions, such as the 27 June ruling limiting the ability of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions, so that, even if an executive order is unconstitutional, a single federal judge can no longer block it from taking effect nationwide. Most recently, the court approved the administration’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education. It has also sanctioned the dismissal of thousands of public sector workers.

Constitutional crisis

The damage Trump has caused will last beyond this administration because so many good people have been driven out or purged. Institutions have been turned upside down, programmes have been slashed or ended. None of these will easily be reinstated. The damage will take decades to put right.

Though many of her Republican contacts insist Trump will not try to stay on for a third term, Alex personally does not rule out the risk. He and the people around him who have facilitated his actions risk a flurry of lawsuits when they leave. Trump can pardon himself and his family members, but he can’t pardon everybody who has been complicit in his law breaking, so they have an incentive to help him stay on in office. He could engineer a crisis and declare a state of emergency, for example in response to public protests against his administration’s actions.

This has already gone beyond a constitutional crisis. The checks and balances in the system and the institutions that are supposed to act as a check on the executive are failing. This is how Alex sums it up:

“So what we are facing is a constitutional failure. I think it’s incredibly serious. I have no good news. If you’re worried you should be. Sorry about that.”

The danger to Europe

Richard Corbett agreed Trump’s actions are essentially undermining democracy. He also believes Trump is more or less overtly seeking regime change in Europe. The invitees to Trump’s inauguration were the first tell-tale sign of this: not foreign heads of state and ministers, but the leaders of far-right parties from across Europe, including Nigel Farage. In Munich, JD Vance argued that the main threats to democracy in Europe are not Russia or China, they are internal. He was not referring to the parties on the right and the far right, he meant the so-called ‘liberal elite’, allegedly imposing its views on the people of Europe.

Now the US is giving overt support to far-right candidates in Romania, Germany, and Hungary. The US. Secretary of State for Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, actually went to Poland during its elections to say that Karol Nawrocki, the far-right candidate, should be the country’s next president.

Money is also being channelled from ultra-conservative groups in the US to European political parties and campaigning groups. Steve Bannon has been reactivating his network of contacts and meetings across far-right parties in Europe, while right-wing Christian groups channel funds to conservative Christian groups in Europe to challenge gay rights.

The European response

Richard notes that parties like Germany’s CDU, previously very pro-US, have been talking up the need for European cohesion and for the EU and European countries to work together more. Public opinion in countries that were traditionally somewhat Eurosceptic, like Denmark, has switched to being much more pro-EU. Trump’s threats to Greenland have certainly focused attention in Denmark and beyond.

Governments, however, and indeed the European Commission, are still being very cautious, as we are still highly dependent on the US for security. They fear Trump may act on his many hints to pull the plug on NATO, or at least reduce the American commitment, and Europe is not yet ready to take up that challenge by itself, despite unease about Trump’s relationship with Putin.

Trump is disrupting world trade, tearing up agreements, imposing tariffs, changing his mind, reimposing them, prolonging and shortening deadlines. It’s chaotic, and a real threat to Europe’s economies. Hence attempts to appease Trump or to flatter him. European countries are publicly very cautious at the moment about confronting him, but their hand may well be forced if Trump really does act on withdrawing or reducing US support for NATO or refuses to compromise on tariffs.

Pushing back

Alex mentioned Georgia, where people have been out protesting for over 200 days, sustaining the pressure on the regime. Likewise, Americans should be lobbying their members of Congress and supporting politicians who have the courage to stand up and resist. They should be making sure they vote, and they should be taking part in civil activities and peaceful protests, like the recent No Kings marches, whenever they can.

She is concerned by the lack of effective pushback in the US. Before the election many intelligence and defence experts were saying Trump was a threat to national security. This included John Bolton, Trump’s own national security advisor in the first administration. Now their criticisms are muted, as they are afraid of being painted as part of the anti-Trump deep state. They hedge their words and express support for some of his actions. Those who have tried to really speak out have had no effect, and people who work within the bureaucracy risk losing their jobs.

The Democrats are divided. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani, the New York mayoral candidate, are speaking out, but the more establishment Democrats are worried this opens the party up to accusations of harbouring socialists and terrorist sympathisers, or of being accused of allegedly ‘failing to learn the lessons’ from the November elections, about public sentiment on immigration or ‘wokeness’. There is real anger in the Democratic grassroots about the Democrat party leadership’s failure to mount more effective resistance to the administration.

Giving dictators the green light

Is Trump’s success in dismantling the checks and balances of democracy in the US emboldening would-be autocrats elsewhere? Alex believes dictators in Belarus and Georgia would be doing what they are doing anyway, but Trump’s attacks on universities, free media and independent organisations make it much harder for the US to then criticise other countries. Trump has slashed funding for organisations that promote democracy abroad, such as Freedom House, the National Democratic Institute, and Radio Free Europe.

The State Department has revised what it will report on in its annual human rights report, avoiding subjects such as the repression of protest or election rigging, because the US might want to do these things itself. The US under Trump will not care about what is happening in Georgia, for example. His foreign policy is values-free: if a regime has something Trump thinks will benefit America or him personally, he is not going to care what it is doing to its own people. He’s happy to be hawkish on Iran, not because Iran has a terrible human rights record, but because Iran has nothing to offer America.

Richard agreed Trump is emboldening far-right groups and autocratic leaders in Europe and elsewhere. Orban, for instance, is isolated in Europe, but at least he can rely on US support. Trump’s overt backing for far-right parties helps them sell themselves in their own countries: “You see, we’re not extremists. The president of the United States thinks we’re good.”

How should the UK handle Trump?

Richard understands that Starmer is doing the same as most European leaders, that is, trying not to alienate Trump by avoiding overt criticism. After the Zelensky incident in the White House, Starmer invited Zelenskyy to London, and made a point of welcoming him on the doorstep of Downing Street. He didn’t openly criticise Trump but his deeds made a point. It’s a very fine balancing act until we can build greater resilience, and that means, says Richard, Europeans must work together.

Alex agreed a responsible British prime minister can’t afford to fall out with America. Trump’s attitude on Ukraine has softened. He’s sounding more critical and frustrated with Putin, and he’s just resumed sending armaments to Ukraine. She thinks Starmer has been influential in that. There was concern Trump’s administration might walk away from the AUKUS nuclear cooperation deal between Australia, the UK and the US, which is key for security in the Pacific, but Starmer has kept it on the road. So, while it’s uncomfortable sometimes to see Starmer having to appease and flatter Trump, until we are truly independent, we can’t afford to upset him.

Final thoughts

Alex concluded by noting that, at the end of the day, no constitution can withstand a determined assault. Such attacks can only be combatted when the people decide they will not tolerate them. The American constitution is being stretched to the limit, and ultimately it’s not words on paper, it’s a living document. Its survival depends on how much people are prepared to fight. “And the failure is not coming from the American people. It’s coming from the American elites and the people who staff these institutions. That is the failure.”

EU Passport checks finally go digital

EU Passport checks finally go digital

Aug 13, 2025 | Bylines, News

The European Union’s new entry/exit system (EES) replaces passport stamping with facial recognition technology and fingerprint ID, writes Bremain Chair Sue Wilson MBE for Yorkshire Bylines.

After numerous delays, the European Union’s new entry/exit system (EES) will finally be introduced on Sunday 12 October. The new system will require facial biometrics and fingerprints to be taken from all non-EU citizens entering the Schengen area. Thanks directly to Brexit, that includes British tourists.

Europe’s entry-exit system (EES) begins 12 Oct

It connects all Schengen area frontiers to a central database so that the comings & goings of non-EU citizens can be more closely monitored, helping identify suspected criminals & police the 90 / 180 day limit that applies to UK & other nationalities

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— BremainInSpain (@bremaininspain.com) 21 July 2025 at 14:00

What is EES and what does it mean for travellers?

The new system – which has been labelled by the European Commission as the “most modern digital border management system in the world” – will replace passport stamping with facial recognition technology and fingerprint ID. Travellers will also need to provide personal details such as their name, date of birth, travel plans, proof of accommodation and medical insurance.

The collected data – which will be valid for three years – will be used to monitor the 90-day-in-180 stay limit, and for the identification of criminals and terrorists. It will also provide a record of a user’s history of travel and allow for checks against security databases held by Interpol and the Schengen Information System.

EES will be phased in over a six-month period, with different ports of entry starting the process at different times. It will apply in 29 countries in the Schengen area, including Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, even though they are not part of the European Union. The system will be fully operational from 10 April 2026.

Later in 2026, the EES system will be joined by the European travel information and authorization system (ETIAS) – a new visa requirement – at a cost of 20 Euros for three years’ travel. Under-18s and over-70s will be exempt from the fee.

 

New requirements to travel to Europe

Entry/Exit System (EES) for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay in 29 European countries (due to start later in 2025)

buff.ly/kFRpD5t

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— vetbizresources.bsky.social (@vetbizresources.bsky.social) 6 March 2025 at 21:08

What British tourists can expect

Dedicated booths are being/have been installed at airports, train stations and ports to allow for the scanning of fingerprints and the taking of photos. The necessary questions that travellers will be asked will usually be done at automated kiosks. However, if the traveller is unable to answer correctly, they would then be referred to a border officer for further checks. Travel experts, such as Luke Petherbridge of ABTA, believes “more people are going to be asked these questions in the future than were in the past”, though he stressed that did not necessarily mean entry would be denied.

The UK government has been “working closely” with the European Commission, member states, local authorities and the travel industry to prepare ports for EES. Facilities at Dover, St. Pancras International and the Channel Tunnel will benefit from £10.5mn in extra governmental support. That support – at the only three ports where the French border is sited on UK soil – will ensure “EES registration is simple for anyone travelling to the Schengen area”. However, the government is warning travellers to “be prepared to wait during busy times”.

Of course, the new EES will not just apply to tourists. The RHA – the largest dedicated trade association in the UK for HGV and LGV vehicles – is so concerned about the impact of the forthcoming changes that it is calling for a professional drivers’ exemption.

 

What Tourists Need To Know About Europe's New Entry/Exit System Before Planning A Trip

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— Explore (@exploredotcom.bsky.social) 2 August 2025 at 15:04

What Britons resident in EU can expect

While Britons living in the EU have been assured they will be exempt from facial biometrics and finger printing requirements, there are still many unanswered questions.

Following the UK-EU summit in May, and the prime minister’s ‘reset’, an announcement was made that British citizens would be able to use e-gates on entry to the EU. Apart from a similar announcement in July, regarding e-gates in Germany, there has been little or no further news on the subject. Until we hear any different, it would be best for British tourists, and British residents of the EU, to assume we’ll be joining long queues along with all other third country nationals.

An update on the UK gov website urges Brits resident in Spain to swap their green certificate for a TIE card because the green paper will not travellers from the European Entry-Exit System (EES) border control system coming in this October, whereas the TIE biometric residency card will

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— murciatoday.com (@murciatoday.bsky.social) 8 July 2025 at 13:41

Further complications for British residents in Spain

As for those of us living in Spain – the most popular EU country for Britons migrating to Europe – the process is complicated by the fact that we must all now have biometric residency documentation. Of over 400,000 Britons living in Spain, the Spanish authorities estimate that as many as 100,000 Brits do not yet have the necessary documentation, even those that are legally resident.

Those with the older paper residency certification must now make an appointment with the local Foreigners’ Office to switch to a biometric card (TIE) as proof of residency. Failure to do so could result in being prevented from boarding a plane or ferry when returning to Spain, or even being refused entry into the country. 

To complicate matters further, it is now more than five years since the last pre-Brexit influx of UK migrants, whose temporary residence now needs replacing with a permanent one. As a result, there are now two distinct groups of British citizens in Spain searching desperately for appointments before 12 October. With available appointments in the most populated areas as rare as hen’s teeth, it looks like we’re all going to have to put up with queueing for some time yet. Thanks, Brexit!

Votes for Life – Improving Representation for Brits Abroad

Votes for Life – Improving Representation for Brits Abroad

Aug 3, 2025 | News, Votes for Life

Update 03 August 2025
Proxy Vote

Improving registration for overseas voters

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is developing a new service to enable Britons voting in UK elections from abroad to renew their voter registration digitally.

To ensure user satisfaction, and identify any possible improvements to the system, a trial has been conducted across a number of constituencies, with over 1000 responses. To date, over 90% of those taking part have expressed their satisfaction, and an independent auditor has rated the service of ‘high standard’ for use by those with disabilities.

This new service will be available to overseas voters in 2026.

 

Update 19 Feb 2025
Proxy Vote

CAMPAIGN FOR OVERSEAS CONSTITUENCIES

In conjunction with New Europeans, Unlock Democracy and other campaign groups – and following the return of our democratic voting rights – Bremain is campaigning for dedicated MPs to represent Britons living abroad.

On January 15 2025, our chair Sue Wilson attended the Citizens’ Rights APPG in Westminster to discuss the Overseas Constituencies campaign with parliamentarians. Since then a parliamentary briefing has been sent out to all MPs and peers outlining the rationale for Overseas Constituencies.

We would like to acknowledge the role of the Bremain Lobby Team in extensively lobbying parliament in this regard. Thank you!

 

The rationale for dedicated MPs for Brits abroad

  • UK based constituency MPs understand little of the issues faced by Britons living abroad, and quite naturally focus their attention on local constituency matters
  • Britons abroad are more likely to be engaged with national UK matters than with constituency-specific issues
  • Dedicated representation by MPs who understand the issues would ensure the voices of overseas voters would be heard
  • Better representation would likely result in increased numbers of Britons abroad registering to vote in the UK
  • At least 17 countries – including EU countries such as France, Italy, Croatia, Romania and Portugal – already have fully functioning overseas constituencies
Update 23 May 2024
Proxy Vote

The Prime Minister has announced a General Election scheduled for Thursday 4 July, just 6 weeks away.

If you have yet to register to vote, you will need to act quickly, as the deadline for the receipt of registration applications is Tuesday 18 June – 12 working days before the poll. As applications in some constituencies are taking up to 4 weeks, please act now to avoid disappointment.

You can Register to Vote online – the process is simple & straightforward & should only take 5 minutes.

We strongly recommend using a proxy if you are unable to vote in person. Applications for a proxy vote close on Wednesday 26 June (6 working days before the poll). You can apply online or by post but you must be registered to vote before starting the process.

For further details re the requirements for registration & proxy voting, please read on.

We’ve waited long enough for the return of our democratic voting rights, so act now & make your vote count!

Update 24 March 2024
Proxy Vote

Voting by Proxy

Now our voting rights have been restored, it’s time to consider how to cast your vote as a British citizen abroad.

If you are unable to vote in person in the UK, then we strongly recommend voting by proxy as postal voting has proved very unreliable in the past & your vote may not arrive in time to be counted.

 

How to apply & what you need

Once you have registered to vote, there are 2 ways to apply for a proxy – online or by post.

Before you start the process, you will need your:

  1. N.I. number or other ID, e.g. birth certificate
  2. Details of your Proxy: name, address, contact details
  3. Digital signature (a photo)

The government have produced as Easy Read Guide that explains the process in more detail.

 

Who can act as your proxy?

You need to appoint someone you trust to act as your proxy who is:

  1. 18 years or over
  2. Registered & eligible to vote

Further information is available from the Electoral Commission: How to vote by proxy

If you are unable to find a friend or family member to act as your proxy, you can approach your local political party. They have a vested interest in finding someone to act on your behalf.

Important note: If you applied for a proxy vote before 31 October 2023, this expired on 31 January 2024 so you need to apply for a new one.

Tens of thousands of Brits abroad have already registered to vote, according to the government’s Register to Vote Dashboard.

If you are not one of them then please read on for all the relevant information on how & where to register. Please don’t wait until an election is announced as the registration process alone is taking up to 4 weeks in some constituencies.

 

Update 11 January 2024

Since Bremain in Spain’s inception, regaining our right to vote in UK elections has always been a high priority. After years of campaigning, the 15-year rule has now been overturned and our right to vote in UK elections has been re-established, regardless of where we live

Effective from 16 January 2024, you will now be able to register to vote in UK elections, regardless of how long you have lived abroad. British citizens, eligible Irish citizens and citizens of Crown Dependencies can register as overseas voters as long as they:

  • were previously registered to vote in the UK or
  • were previously resident in the UK

Get ready to register

Before starting the process of registration, you will need to have access to proof of your ID and your former UK address.

To prove your ID you will need to provide your National Insurance (NI) number and your date of birth. If you have a British passport (current or expired), you will need to scan it for ID purposes. If you have lost your NI number, you can search for it here

To prove your address you will need to provide documentation containing your full name and address details. Acceptable documentation includes:

  • a UK driving licence (current or expired)
  • correspondence from HMRC or the Dept. for Work and Pensions
  • council tax statement/demand
  • credit card statement
  • utility or mobile phone bill
  • letter from an insurance company
  • P45 or P60 form or payslip
  • bank/building society passbook
  • local authority rent book

 

In the event that you are unable to provide satisfactory evidence of your ID and former UK address, you will have the option of providing an attestation. You will need to ask someone (not a close family member) to attest to the details you provide. Your attestor must be over 18 and registered to vote in the UK, but they do not need to be a UK resident.

 

How to register

You can register to vote from overseas online on the government website here

When applying to register, use the last address where you were registered as a UK resident. If previously registered to vote at more than one UK address, use the most recent address at which you were registered.

Any eligible voters that previously resided in the UK, even as children, but have never been registered to vote, can apply using their last UK address.

Details provided will be verified by local authorities who are responsible for the electoral role in their area.

Once registered to vote, you will need to renew your registration every three years (previously annually), before 1 November.

An easy read guide on the registration process is available here

 

Feedback

We would be very interested to hear about your experiences in registering to vote using the government website. The process will be straightforward for some and more complex for others, but it is important that we understand how it works for you, and any issues that need resolving. Any feedback, good or bad, of your experiences of the registration process can be emailed to us at: enquiries@bremaininspain.com. We will be sure to feed back any issues to the DLUHC and the Electoral Commission in order to improve the process.

 

With a general election looming over the horizon, please do not wait to get yourself on the electoral register. The return of our democratic voting rights has been a long, hard-fought campaign, and the UK has never needed a new government more than it does right now. So, exercise your democratic rights and register to vote now!

 

Useful links

Electoral Commission: Overseas Voters- Resources for British Citizens Overseas

Electoral Commission: FAQs

British Embassy – Living in Spain – Voting

LibDems Abroad: Brits Abroad and Brits Abroad Q&A

British in Europe: Get ready to vote – your FAQs

 

Update 14 December 2023

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has now confirmed the date from which the voting franchise will be extended to all overseas voters.

The “15 year-rule” will effectively be removed – for those previously registered to vote, or previously resident in the UK – as of 16 January 2024, from 12.30 a.m. – via the Register to Vote website.

In the meantime, we recommend that those who are currently disenfranchised from voting start collecting their proof of ID (NI numbers, passports etc) and proof of their last UK address/electoral registration and scan them ready for upload to the government website. 

Further detailed instructions on the process, and the acceptable documentation, will be available here nearer the time.

Update 31 October 2023

New arrangements for voting by post and by proxy come into immediate effect as of today. Those already registered to vote in UK elections can now apply online to vote either by post or by proxy.

Once your form has been downloaded and completed, it is then sent off to the Electoral Registration office for England, Scotland or Wales or for Northern Ireland 

If you are living in the UK, you can download the application forms here

For those living abroad, apply online here

If you have not exceeded 15 years abroad, then you can also use the above link to register/re-register to vote. Those that have exceeded the 15 year period should be able to register to vote in January 2024 when the secondary legislation is finalised.

Update 26 October 2023

Progress has now been made regarding the secondary legislation required to further the restoration of our overseas voting rights.

On 23 October, the government published the Statutory Instrument on overseas voting regulations. These now require the approval of parliament before being signed into law, and will be considered by both House of Commons and House of Lords committees. The process usually takes no more than 8 weeks, so is expected to be finalised by early January 2024.

The next step will then be registration for disenfranchised overseas voters, likely to start before the end of January, as scheduled.

Update 9 October 2023

Following our latest discussion with the Head of Secondary Legislation, Registration & Franchise Division, at the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities, we are pleased to be able to confirm the following:

  • The department is still on track to progress the necessary secondary legislation this Autumn
  • The legislation will be laid & debated with the intention that the necessary changes to overseas voting rights come into force in January
  • Voters who are currently eligible can continue to register as usual, and from January onwards
  • Newly eligible voters – that were previously denied a vote under the 15-year rule – will be able to apply to register from January onwards
Update 21 June 2023

Votes for Life – Overseas Electorate Roundtable

On 21 June 2023, Bremain Chair, Sue Wilson, attended a meeting with Baroness Scott of Bybrook, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). The online meeting was also attended by officials of the DLUHC Elections Directorate, who Sue had met with earlier this year.

Speaking on behalf of the disenfranchised overseas electorate were representatives from a variety of campaign organisations, including Conservatives Abroad, LibDems Abroad, Labour International and British in Europe.

Secondary legislation

Before parliament can approve the new legislation, there will be a consultation with the Electoral Commission, who will provide further scrutiny of the plans and processes. The expectation remains that the secondary legislation will come into force in January 2024, enabling the registration process to begin.

Registration process

Changes are being made to:

  • ID verification process
  • Franchise criteria
  • Application forms

Each change is aimed at making the process easier and quicker for existing and new overseas voters, and to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. These changes will apply to all UK parliamentary elections, including any bi-elections.

Renewals & Absentees

When re-registering to vote (every 3 years in future, rather than every year as at present), the process will allow for concurrent re-registration for proxy or postal voting. A reminder will be issued in advance to those already on the electoral register, and a new “light-touch” renewal declaration will speed up the process.

A new process for postal/proxy voting applications will be available online. For postal voting, pre-paid “international business response” envelopes will be supplied by Royal Mail – these envelopes are suitable for all international use and widely recognised abroad.

Following the meeting, Sue said, “it was reassuring to learn that the plans outlined to me in March are progressing well, and the previously quoted timescales still stand. It was a pleasure to meet Baroness Scott and her team who are clearly dedicated, well informed, and efficient. It is clear that all concerns raised by Bremain, and other campaign groups, have been listened to and acted upon. Restoration of our democratic votes rights is now well under way.”

A further roundtable meeting will be held in the Autumn.

For further information, read the earlier updates or visit the government website: Overseas electors: Delivering ‘votes for life’ for British expatriates

 

 

 

 

Update 23 March 2023

On 23 March 2023, Bremain Chair Sue Wilson attended a meeting at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to discuss the restoration of full democratic voting rights to Britons living abroad.

The meeting was with officials from Elections Directorate at the DLUHC in Westminster.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the next steps, the process and to establish the timescale. This is what we learned ……….

Secondary legislation

In order to restore full voting rights following the passing of the Elections Act by Parliament, secondary legislation will be necessary.

This will take place in the Autumn session of parliament 2023 with the intention of delivering ‘votes for life’ ahead of the next General Election. The secondary legislation to deliver the overseas electors change is expected to be made and come into force in January 2024.

Improvements to the registration process

To facilitate voting arrangements, the process of registration will be made simpler, and the frequency of re-registration will be extended from 1 year to (up to) 3 years. An online registration service will be complemented by the introduction of an online absent vote (postal or proxy) application process.

As soon as the changes come into force, newly enfranchised electors will be able to apply to register to vote. We will then be encouraging our members to act quickly, rather than wait until an election is announced.

The franchise of eligible voters will be extended to include all of the following British citizens, regardless of how long they have been living abroad:

  • those previously registered to vote in the UK
  • those previously resident in the UK

In addition, those that left the UK before they were old enough to register to vote will no longer have to rely on the registration status of their parents/guardians.

 

The verification process

The process will require the verification of both personal identity and a previous UK address.

Regarding identity verification, this could be established, as now, via a check of applicants’ details (including NI number) against DWP records, or if that is not possible, via documentary evidence, such as a UK passport. Failing that, an attestation (a declaration that certain facts are true) from a suitably qualified elector (not a close family member) would be acceptable.

Re address verification, if it is not possible for an Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to verify an address by a register check, other options will be available, such as documentary evidence from a bank, building society, utility company, tax office or a variety of other organisations. A full list is available online (see below). Failing that, an attestation – as with ID verification – would be acceptable.

Following the meeting, Sue said, “I came away from the meeting impressed with the level of detail provided, the comprehensive nature of the planning and preparation, and the understanding of the issues we face as overseas voters. I was impressed with the knowledge and abilities of the people I met and with their willingness to engage with us and to listen to our concerns. Now, bring on the next election, but not before next spring, please!”

For further information, go to the government website: Overseas electors: Delivering ‘votes for life’ for British expatriates

 

Update 28 April 2022

The Elections Act has received Royal Assent and has now become law. It will allow British citizens abroad to vote in UK elections, by removing the 15-year limit. It will also extend the annual re-registration requirements to just once every three years.

In response to an enquiry regarding overseas voters’ measures in the Elections Act, the Electoral Commission said, “The Government has not yet made the legislation necessary to bring these changes into force, and we do not expect them to come into force before summer 2023. More detail on the implementation of these measures is expected to come from the government in the coming months.”

You can read the Government’s announcement re the passing of the Elections Act here

You can read an article written by Bremain Chair, Sue Wilson, on the passing of the Elections Act here

Update 01 Oct 2021

Our campaign for the restoration of our voting rights, and the scrapping of the arbitrary 15-year rule, moved a little closer to fruition this month. The controversial Elections Bill, which includes the government’s manifesto promise to restore our voting privileges, has made some progress through parliament. On 7 September, the bill passed the Second Reading in the House of Commons.  

On 22 September, the Committee stage began, and is scheduled to continue on 19 October. You can watch the latest proceedings on Parliament TV here. 

In tandem with the passage of the bill through the Commons, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) started its Elections Bill Inquiry. Many campaign groups submitted evidence to the committee, Bremain included. 

We asked our members why their vote was important to them and used many of your testimonies in our report. Many thanks to all those that contributed. You can read about our presentation of evidence to the committee here, in an article by our Chair, Sue Wilson.  To read our evidence report in full, click here 

Update 28 July 2021

The date for the second reading of the Elections Bill has been announced as 7 September, at 12.40 BST.

The second reading is the first opportunity for MPs to debate the general principles of the Bill. At the end of the debate, MPs will vote on whether they think the Bill should proceed to the next stage – the Committee Stage.

You can follow the progress of the Bill here

You can watch the debate live on Parliament TV, or watch a recording after the event here

Update 27 July 2021

On 26 July, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) announced a new enquiry into the controversial Elections Bill.

The bill includes government plans to introduce voter ID at polling stations, the aim being to “protect the integrity of elections”. However, many campaigners have argued that election fraud is extremely rare, and the bill is a solution to a problem that does not exist.

Committee Chair William Wragg said:

 

“These proposals make significant changes to the implementation of and potentially participation in elections. It’s natural that they are properly interrogated and claims by the Government that the plans would protect our democracy are tested before implementation. Although few would argue against shoring-up our electoral system in principle, it’s critical to ensure that it is done correctly, that it is fair, and that it is necessary to do so.”

Of course, the bill also includes the long-awaited restoration of democratic voting rights for Britons living abroad, affected by the arbitrary 15-year rule. We are encouraging our members to write to their MPs with their views on the Elections Bill – good and bad – and we will be presenting evidence to the committee in due course.

You can read more about the proposed enquiry here

You can read more about PACAC here

If you wish to submit evidence to the committee, you can do so here. The deadline is 31 August 2021.

Update 21 July 2021

Veteran campaigner, Harry Shindler OBE, has been fighting for the restoration of our democratic voting rights for 25 years. 
On 17th July 2021, he celebrated his 100th birthday. Bremain could not let this occasion pass un-noticed, so we asked our members and other campaign groups to join us in sharing our good wishes.

Bremain members contributed to our birthday book. You can view the book & read our members’ comments here

Campaign groups across the UK & the EU contributed to our dedicated video, which you can view here

We wish Harry a very happy birthday, & many more to come.

Update 07 July 2021
On 5 July 2021, the government bill set to restore our democratic voting rights was finally brought before parliament. A government press release stated that the new legislation was designed “to strengthen the integrity of UK elections and protect our democracy”, and included this aim:

“To increase participation in our democracy, the Bill will deliver the longstanding commitment to remove the arbitrary 15 year limit on overseas electors voting in UK Parliamentary general elections.”

The Elections Bill is proving controversial, though not because of the scrapping of the 15-year voting rule. The cause for concern is the planned introduction of voter ID, which threatens to disenfranchise many further voters, and is regarded by many as undemocratic and unnecessary.

Bremain will be following the passage of the new bill with great interest, and will provide regular updates.

More information on the Elections Bill is available on the official government website here.

You can also access updates on the Parliament website here, including the latest government publications and details of the bill’s progress. The government describe the bill thus:

 

“A Bill to make provision about the administration and conduct of elections, including provision designed to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process; about overseas electors; about voting and candidacy rights of EU citizens; about the designation of a strategy and policy statement for the Electoral Commission; about the membership of the Speaker’s Committee; about the Electoral Commission’s functions in relation to criminal proceedings; about financial information to be provided by a political party on applying for registration; for preventing a person being registered as a political party and being a recognised non-party campaigner at the same time; about regulation of expenditure for political purposes; about disqualification of offenders for holding elective offices; about information to be included in electronic campaigning material; and for connected purposes.”
For further information:

Read the Elections Bill in full here 

Read the Explanatory Notes here 

Read the Elections Bill Impact Assessment here

Update 27 May 2021

The government officially announced today that British citizens who have moved abroad will be given ‘votes for life’ as the UK Government scraps the arbitrary 15-year limit on the voting rights. All British citizens who are living overseas who have been previously registered or previously resident in the UK will be able to vote in UK Parliamentary General Elections. In addition, the new rules will mean overseas electors can stay registered for longer requiring them to renew their registration details once every three years, rather than annually.

Overseas electors will also be able to reapply for a postal vote or refresh their proxy vote at the same time as renewing their voter registration, streamlining the process and helping to ensure they have appropriate voting arrangements in place ahead of an election. These changes, which will form part of the Elections Bill will come into effect in time for the next scheduled General Election in 2024.

Update 12 May 2021

Since the 2010 General Election and each subsequent election, the Conservative party have pledged to repeal the fifteen year rule and provision was made in this year’s Budget in March.

In yesterday’s Queen’s Speech, as part of the Electoral Integrity Bill, the commitment to remove the fifteen year rule was announced.

Update 4 March 2021

After months of inactivity, it seems the British government’s manifesto commitment – to scrap the 15-year rule – is finally taking a step forward.

The Electoral Integrity Bill – which includes the restoration of the democratic voting rights of millions of Brits abroad – will form part of this spring’s Queen’s Speech.

There was further good news in the Budget yesterday. If you look closely at the small print on page 48, you will find reference to additional funds set aside expressly for the purpose of securing our #VotesForLife 

2.41 Overseas Electors – The government is providing an additional £2.5 million to remove
the limit preventing British citizens who live overseas from voting after 15 years.

You can read an article by Sue Wilson about the bill in the Yorkshire Bylines here

Democracy on the Brink in Georgia

Democracy on the Brink in Georgia

Jul 31, 2025 | Bylines, News

“Democracy can collapse faster than we think”: urgent warnings from Georgia spotlight rising authoritarian threats across Europe and the West, writes Bremain Treasurer Helen Johnston for Yorkshire Bylines. 

On 8 July, Grassroots for Europe hosted a Round Table webinar on the state of government and democracy in the USA and Europe. One of the key speakers was the former British ambassador to Georgia, Alexandra Hall Hall, who drew parallels between events there and in America, pointing out that democratic collapse can happen faster than we think.

First-hand testimony from Georgia

A last-minute guest speaker at the webinar was Georgian politician Dr Grigol Gegelia. Elected in the recent elections as a member of the Lelo Strong Georgia coalition, he is boycotting Parliament with the rest of the opposition in protest against the authoritarian, Russian-backed Georgian Dream government.

His description of the rapidly deteriorating situation there, including, shockingly, the detention of a fellow party worker minutes earlier, could not have been timelier for illustrating Alex’s warnings about the danger to democracy in America and Europe.

Georgians have been protesting for over 200 days now, with protesters subject to arrest, beatings, torture, imprisonment and heavy fines. In December 2024, Saba Buadze, who was also elected under the Lelo Strong Georgia banner, told me he believed Georgian Dream is capable of anything, and the use of repressive methods will increase: “We are at the stage of autocracy, and we are going downhill now.” Dr Gegelia’s words bear this prediction out only too grimly.

Targeting opposition parties

In January, the government set up a temporary commission to investigate alleged crimes committed by the UNM government that came into power following the 2003 Rose Revolution. Opposition politicians  – regardless of their connections to this period – are being summoned to appear and risk imprisonment if they refuse. Key opposition leaders in Georgia have been jailed, sentenced to seven or eight months in prison and banned from holding office. According to Amnesty International, the commission has been instrumentalised to target former public officials for their principled opposition: “It has become a tool of political repression, not of parliamentary scrutiny, used to lock away political opponents ahead of local elections.”

Dr Gegelia explained that although the “temporary investigative commission was ostensibly set up to probe into alleged crimes committed by the UNM government in 2003–2012, it is basically a device to put the entire opposition on trial and then jail them for refusing to attend, because they knew that none of us would ever do so. If I’m summoned to attend, I will not do so, so I will also be fined or imprisoned for up to a year”.

Just before the webinar began, one of Dr Gegelia’s colleagues was stopped for a drug search and detained. The government denies that drug checks are being used to target protesters and political opponents, but, as Dr Gegelia said, “there were no plausible reasons to expect any such arrest”, and a number of those detained were activists or members of opposition parties.

Sliding towards dictatorship in Georgia

Dr Gegelia believes that Georgia could soon tip over into a complete, full-blown dictatorship. “They’re arresting activists and now introducing additional laws designed to curb all forms of political protest”, such as the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Ordinary protesters are deterred by extortionate fines – amounting to four to five months of the average Georgian salary – with provisions allowing for arrest if the fines go unpaid.

“They’re trying to deploy the entire machinery of law against their own citizens, against all forms of dissent, to silence all of us and those of us that will not be silenced, especially those working on international lobbying.”

When Dr Gegelia and colleagues from three other parties visited the Baltic states in January, the prime minister accused them of engaging in acts of sabotage: “He effectively gave a green light for prosecution services and others to potentially try us for crimes carrying sentences of seven to 15 years.”

Controversial local elections

Local elections are due to be held in Georgia in October. Some opposition parties have chosen to boycott them, while others, including Dr Gegelia’s Lelo party, have decided to stand. He argues that “we should use every platform possible, even where you don’t believe you can win. We do not believe that will serve to legitimise the regime, because we plan, while participating in those elections, to also call on all our friends and partners throughout the world to continue to speak out, act, sanction the regime’s people, isolate them as much as possible”.

He also acknowledges that other opposition groups have criticised his party for its stance (indeed, there is also internal dissent: Saba Buadze has resigned his post in disagreement, although he remains a party member). Dr Gegelia similarly recognises that the elections will not be free or fair, but “our purpose is to open up a new battlefront, to give people another dynamic, another possibility to engage, to fight and reclaim whatever we can”

Sanctions and international pressure

Dr Gegelia appealed for democracy activists to put pressure on Western governments to impose stricter sanctions. It seems Georgian Dream had hoped to draw on a “striking alignment” of values and ideology with the Trump administration. However, the US ambassador recently described the Georgian Prime Minister’s open letter to Trump and JD Vance as “threatening, insulting, unserious”. Legislation currently under consideration in the US Congress would authorise sanctions to counter the influence of Russia, China, and Iran in Georgia. The Georgian government regards the legislation as biased and hostile.

Nevertheless, Dr Gegelia believes the government currently fears the UK more than the US. Apart from possible channels for joint action with Europe, the UK could also act independently. Britain has already warned businesses in Georgia that they would face sanctions if they assist Russia in evading existing measures. On 4 July, Stephen Doughty, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, noted that: “the UK’s support for the Georgian people’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations remains steadfast, and we stand ready to assist in any return to a trajectory towards European values and democratic norms”.

On 14 July, the UK government stepped up the pressure on Georgia in a video address delivered by British ambassador Gareth Ward, stating that: “The UK Foreign Secretary and other European partners have called on the Georgian government to release unjustly detained politicians, journalists and activists, repeal repressive legislation and engage in national dialogue with all relevant stakeholders to find a way out of the current situation”.

On 21 July, Doughty confirmed that the UK has downgraded bilateral cooperation and is considering further measures, urging Georgian Dream “to reverse course and engage in inclusive national dialogue with all stakeholders in Georgia’s future”. Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze lashed out with a Trumpesque response, saying, “This is a statement saturated with disinformation…there are serious problems in Great Britain in terms of media pluralism, in terms of media freedom, in terms of the influence of the ‘Deep State’ on the media”.

The EU increases the heat

Since Dr Gegelia spoke to us, the EU has also turned up the heat on the Georgian regime. In July, MEPs voted to endorse a report which “deplores the backsliding of the rule of law as well as the growing Russian influence on the ruling party, Georgian Dream”, followed by a joint letter issued by European Foreign Ministers expressing deep concern over the “deteriorating situation in Georgia”.

The EU high representative for foreign affairs, Kaja Kallas, responded to an open letter from Georgia’s former president, Salome Zurabishvili, saying that the attack on democracy by Georgian Dream is becoming increasingly severe and Georgia’s visa-free regime with the EU is at risk over concerns about democratic ‘backsliding’.

Georgia’s ruling party’s response mirrors that of the UK, describing the joint letter as “saturated with Soviet-style disinformation and false accusations”. Prime Minister Kobakhidze once again defended the foreign agents law, claiming it was necessary to defend Georgian “peace and stability” against foreign influence.

Individual EU member states are also increasing diplomatic pressure, with messages in recent days from the Dutch minister of foreign affairs and the French ambassador to Georgia, Sheraz Gasri. On 15 July, Giorgi Gakharia, the leader of the For Georgia party, met with Poland’s foreign minister, appealing for “unified and coordinated actions by the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States in supporting the Georgian people”.

This appeal is reflected in Dr Gegelia’s closing words to the Round Table audience: “In summary, we need action, and we need sanctions: sanctions do work. The regime is scared of sanctions, especially UK sanctions, because many of them are obviously hoping to find a safe haven for themselves and their money in the UK. Like the Russian oligarchs, they’ve bought properties, and they’ve tried to find some quiet spots to keep their money. So, they’re very scared of any threat to that. That is my message to all of you, as friends of democracy in Georgia and worldwide.”