Contact

News & Insights

End to 15-year-rule for expats

“This statement shows how we will introduce votes for life, scrapping the 15-year rule. British citizens who move abroad remain a part of our democracy and it is important they have the ability to participate,” commented Chris Skidmore, Minister for the Constitution.

“Following the British people’s decision to leave the EU, we now need to strengthen ties with countries around the world and show the UK is an outward-facing nation. Our expat community has an important role to play in helping Britain expand international trade, especially given two-thirds of expats live outside the EU.”

However, the policy statement comes too late for the many clients of expat financial services in the EU who wished to vote in the Brexit referendum but were unable to do so because of the limits imposed by the 15-year rule.

A consolation victory?

As such, the case represents something of a belated victory for Harry Shindler, a 93-year-old expat based in Italy who has spent many years campaigning on the issue of UK expat voting rights.

Last year he joined forces with an expat living in Belgium in order to mount a legal challenge against the 15-year rule so that he could vote in the referendum. Despite the belatedness of the decision he said that he was “pleased and grateful that Theresa May has committed to giving expats a vote by 2020”.

He is just one of many UK expats in the EU who retain close links to their country of origin, whether it is through their families, their pensions or their providers of expat financial services.

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

Other News

Best cities to move to in France

Whether you prefer the bright lights of a big city, or a peaceful country retreat, rest assured that if you choose to move to France, you’ll find the ideal area that suits your needs and requirements. Paris Pint of beer: 7 EUR (£6.30) Cappuccino: 3.67 EUR (£3.30) Meal in a restaurant: 15 EUR (£13.50) Monthly […]

Read More

Gibraltar Tax Treaty Offers Clarity and Landmark Recognition

WallAs reported in our Big Deal blog, the UK and Spain have a tax treaty agreement for Gibraltar and Spain. This 2019 treaty is designed to clarify a number of important issues, including the long-standing, contentious issues of tax disputes and tax residency.

Furthermore, the Treaty resolves the issue of Gibraltar’s ongoing consistency with EU law following Brexit as the British Overseas Territory has elected to retain legislation equivalent to EU law on all matters related to financial transparency, taxation, administration and Anti-Money Laundering.

Read More

Select your country

Please select your country of residence so we can provide you with the most relevant information: