Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party, is to introduce a 10 Minute Rule Bill seeking to abolish the rule which prevents Britons living abroad from voting if they have lived abroad for more than 15 years.
The Conservative Party has announced a manifesto pledged to abolish the rule if they win the 2015 election. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown’s Bill, debated in Parliament tomorrow, would abolish the 15 year rule before 2015 to allow those expats to vote in the next General Election.
Lack of support from the Liberal Democrats and Labour mean that the Bill is unlikely to become law in this parliament. Clifton-Brown, who co-chairs the Conservative Backbench Group for the rights of Britons living abroad, said “It’s difficult to get a controversial Bill like this one through. Being realistic I think it’s unlikely, but you never know.”
Last week Lord Norton, another member of the Conservative Backbench Group, initiated a debate in the Lords on increasing expat voter registration (see earlier news item).
Heather Harper, Chairman of Conservatives Abroad said “it’s the Conservative Party that is championing the rights of British expats. It’s very important that the estimated 3 million eligible expat voters register to make their voices heard in 2015. We would love it if Geoffrey’s Bill allowed even more British expats to vote and we will keep campaigning to restore their democratic right”
You can read The Telegraph report about the Bill here