A petition has been launched calling on the UK government to install MPs to represent the interests of Brits living overseas – echoing systems that already exist in countries including France and Italy.
The petition has been set up on the UK’s parliament website, calling on the government to “establish an MP for the 5 million British citizens living overseas”.
The petition author explains: “As an expat in Hong Kong with strong UK ties, I believe having my interests represented in British Parliament is vital. Despite our various contributions to our home country, we lack essential parliamentary representation there.
“While other issues are important, we think that extending representation to overseas citizens is crucial for inclusivity. It’s time for the UK to expand its parliamentary representation to include us, ensuring we can shape the future of our home country.”
Several European countries already have such a system in place, including France, Italy and Croatia.
In France 11 MPs are elected to the Assemblée nationale whose role is to represent the interests of French citizens living overseas – they each represent a ‘constituency’ such as French people in northern Europe.
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Brits abroad, on the other hand, can only approach the MP of the constituency where they were last registered to vote when living in the UK, who may not have any particular knowledge of the challenges faced by Brits living overseas.
The recent chaotic and conflicting advice given to British dual nationals over the UK’s new ETA visa waiver has highlighted how few options Brits abroad have when it comes to fighting their corner.
You can find the petition here.
