Expats should consider short-term appeal of regular savings, says report

Good news for British expats who are hoping to prove that the EU Referendum Act 2015 unfairly discriminates against them and their decision to exercise their right to freedom of movement in the EU; they have won the right to launch an urgent appeal against the decision to not grant them a vote in the European Union referendum.

The move comes after Lord Justice Lloyd Jones, sitting with Mr Justice Blake at the High Court in London, earlier ruled that section 2 of the Act did not restrict their rights.

The appeal, which is being led by two British expats, is motivated by a desire to prevent Brexit; an event which would unduly affect the lives of the two million British expats who, should Britain leave the EU, face the possibility of having their lives severely disrupted, together with their plans for their expat regular savings. In fact, according to lawyers representing the expats, they face becoming “resident aliens”.

An investigation by The Pensions Regulator has for the first time resulted in an immediate custodial sentence for the perpetrator of professional pensions fraud, after William Bessent, an accountant who used his position as the trustee and administrator of a pension scheme to steal his clients’ savings, was sentenced to 40 months in prison. He pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges, making prohibited employer-related investments, and separate charges of acting as a director while disqualified.

The landmark case, being heard at Preston Crown Court* will also hopefully result in the return of stolen funds. On July 5 the courts will seek to obtain a confiscation order in order to make Bessent repay the remainder of the money he owes; he has so far repaid £80,000 but owes a further £200,000.