A summer campaign has been launched to promote the merits of overseas constituencies for UK citizens living abroad.
Over the summer, UK MPs can expect to receive postcards from all around the world with messages such as: “I love living and working here and may want to retire here, but I still have very close ties with the UK” and “If ever you are in town, let’s catch up and mull over the benefits of having an MP whose main role is representing UK citizens abroad.”
The initiative, called “I Wish You Were Here – Then We Could Talk Overseas Constituencies”, is the brainchild of a coalition of UK organisations, with a global membership.
Why campaigners want change
Overseas constituencies are, it is claimed by the campaigners, a more effective way of representing UK citizens living abroad. They would give Britons living abroad “proper, dedicated representation” in the UK Parliament, it is said.
As of 2024, all UK citizens overseas (who once lived or were registered to vote in the UK) can vote in British general elections. But their local MP may have little experience of dealing with the issues UK citizens abroad regularly face, says Else Kvist, head of Campaigns and Communications of New Europeans UK, one of the groups involved.
How other countries do it
A system of overseas constituencies is used by countries such as France and Italy, often achieving higher voter turnout and, it is claimed, an enhanced focus on the priorities of their overseas voters.If the UK adopted a similar system, Britons overseas would vote for MPs representing their part of the world, instead of a constituency they may have left many years ago.
As part of the postcard campaign, people are being encouraged to contact their local British MP and call for reform. A tool is being made available to help them find out who their local MP is and, if someone lives abroad, they can use their last UK address or the address where they were previously registered.
Calls to end neglect of Britons abroad
Unlock Democracy campaigner Tom Brake urges MPs not to forget about citizens abroad during the summer recess. He says their views are often “neglected or completely ignored”. Establishing overseas constituencies, he argues, is the best way to ensure those voices are no longer marginalised. His colleague Ruvi Ziegler agrees, saying British citizens abroad deserve more effective representation, tailored to their interests and concerns. “Overseas constituencies can help close this gap,” he says.
Ensuring votes really count
Another campaigner – Chair of British Overseas Voters Forum – Bruce Darrington, highlights the practical benefits. At present, he notes, many overseas postal votes arrive too late to be counted. Constituencies for overseas citizens would provide a fairer system.“Knowing your vote will count, in turn galvanises citizens to register to vote,” he says, pointing to France as an example. They have ‘overseas MPs’ and have 1.7 million registered to vote for them overseas, compared with just 191,000 for the UK.
Former election agent Jenny Shorten, of Liberal Democrats Abroad, agrees that the current system is broken. She says official reports have warned governments for years, and even MPs have accepted the problem in a recent select committee review. “Overseas constituencies are a fair and effective system for representing overseas electors based on where they live now, instead of on the lottery of their last address before they left the UK,” she says.
From pensions to healthcare, expats want representation
The campaign is also backed by Imogen Tyreman, Chair of Labour International. She says Britons abroad deserve a voice in Parliament on issues directly affecting them, from frozen pensions and recognition of qualifications to healthcare access.
Terence Champion, Chair of Liberal Democrats Overseas, says the UK’s 5.5 million citizens abroad face concerns very different from those at home. These include frozen pensions, higher education fees, bank account problems, spouse visas and complex voting procedures.Dedicated MPs, he argues, would ensure those voices are finally heard in Westminster. “Our issues, properly addressed, will add certainty that our needs will be considered in national decision making,” he says.
Clarissa Killwick, of Brexpats – Hear Our Voice, says her pan-European rights group rarely gets the chance to meet their MP face to face. For them, the postcard campaign is an opportunity to show “who and where we are.” She adds: “We hope to prompt dialogue about overseas constituencies. We are part of the British population and need representation like everyone else.” Living in Italy, she has seen how overseas MPs there can make a difference. “They have brought about important changes,” she says.
Who is behind the campaign
Organisations in the coalition include Unlock Democracy, New Europeans UK, British Overseas Voters Forum, Bremain in Spain, Liberal Democrats Abroad, Labour International, Brexpats – Hear Our Voice, and Liberal Democrats Overseas.
More information about overseas constituencies can be found here.
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