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British Ambassador visits Malaga with urgent Brexit message
| Published: | 2 May at 6 PM |
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During a hastily arranged visit to Malaga, British Ambassador Simon Manley urged UK expats to register to vote in June’s Brexit referendum.
The visit was the result of the UK High Court’s refusal to grant expats who’ve lived overseas for more than 15 years the right to vote in the crucial referendum. During a press conference, Manley stressed that every expat vote would count, adding that the official deadline for postal vote registration is June 7.
At the present time, over one thousand expat voters are registering every day, using the Register to Vote webpage on the Embassy site. Manley sees the trend as very encouraging, but stated that tens of thousands more are as yet unregistered.
The issue, he said, is the most crucially important decision for Britons in generations, as the result will affect the UK’s economy, its security and society as a whole for decades to come. Drawing on his experience as a former Foreign Office Europe director, Manley stressed his personal belief that whatever opinion is held, each and every expat with the right to vote has a duty to exercise it.
Saying that no-one knows for certain the consequences to the UK, its citizens and UK expats overseas should the country back out of the EU, he made it clear no reassurances can be given regarding negative results due to a Brexit. In order to register, expat voters must present their passport details, a National Insurance number and, if possible, their last UK residence's postcode.
Voting from overseas has two options, a postal ballot with a deadline of May 16 for its arrival or by proxy via someone in the UK. Registration can also be done online, although a completion by post may be needed.
The visit was the result of the UK High Court’s refusal to grant expats who’ve lived overseas for more than 15 years the right to vote in the crucial referendum. During a press conference, Manley stressed that every expat vote would count, adding that the official deadline for postal vote registration is June 7.
At the present time, over one thousand expat voters are registering every day, using the Register to Vote webpage on the Embassy site. Manley sees the trend as very encouraging, but stated that tens of thousands more are as yet unregistered.
The issue, he said, is the most crucially important decision for Britons in generations, as the result will affect the UK’s economy, its security and society as a whole for decades to come. Drawing on his experience as a former Foreign Office Europe director, Manley stressed his personal belief that whatever opinion is held, each and every expat with the right to vote has a duty to exercise it.
Saying that no-one knows for certain the consequences to the UK, its citizens and UK expats overseas should the country back out of the EU, he made it clear no reassurances can be given regarding negative results due to a Brexit. In order to register, expat voters must present their passport details, a National Insurance number and, if possible, their last UK residence's postcode.
Voting from overseas has two options, a postal ballot with a deadline of May 16 for its arrival or by proxy via someone in the UK. Registration can also be done online, although a completion by post may be needed.
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