British Prime Minister David Cameron has been in Brussels this week renegotiating the UK’s current deal with the European Union. After contracted talks he not only announced a new deal but also that there will be an “IN or OUT” referendum on 23 June 2016.
It’s a simple question but the result could have far reaching consequences for those of us who live and work in Spain. As citizens of the European Union we have an automatic right to live and work in any member state but this could be taken away from us if the UK votes to exit the union or “Brexit” as it’s now commonly called.
So expect lots of smoke and mirrors from various politicians over the next 4 months as they try and convince the voters to cast their ballots papers for whatever side they are on. If the opinion polls are to be believed (and that’s dubious after the general election) the U.K. is more or less split down the middle so the campaign is sure to get nasty with many twists and turns along the way similar to the Scottish Independence referendum.
With so much at stake the UK embassies on the European mainland have started a campaign to get expats registered to vote. The Madrid embassy has already started their campaign with a spokesman saying “Interest in the referendum among expats is high, but awareness that they may be able to vote is low. We want as many expats as possible to know that they may be eligible to have their say.”
If you have lived abroad for less than 15 YEARS you are eligible to vote in the EU referendum however it’s estimated that only 5% of overseas voters have registered so far. With 2 million potential expat votes out there the “Brits Abroad” could swing the decision.
To register go to:
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
It’s very simple and takes 5 mins.
Good luck and do your bit for Britain…..whatever way you decide.
"MAN IN SAN AN" by Martin Makepeace 
Does no vote realise that a very large number of expats living in southern europe could be forced back to UK, if they were to win?
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I would still like to know the implications of Britain leaving the EU for expats, nobody seems to be very clear on what would happen, and we need to know as it potentially affects thousands of people’s lives.
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I have read that most British expats in Europe do not satisfy the 15 year rule for eligibility to vote. If like me you do not, consider signing this petition, to press the government not to disenfranchise us on this question which will affect all of us.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/112142
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