Op-ed: Ex-pats have lost their legal challenge to their exclusion from the UK EU in / out referendum but vow to fight on. They will have to get a move on as the referendum is scheduled for June 23. It seems even ex-pats who have lived outside of the UK for many years feel they should have a say in the upcoming EU referendum. The reason for exclusion is obviously as many are expected to be heavily biased in favour of the UK opting to stay a member of the EU According to BBC News the legal challenge was launched by two Britons living abroad, World War Two veteran Harry Shindler, 94, who lives in Italy, and lawyer and Belgian resident Jacquelyn MacLennan. This week they lost a High Court battle over the right to vote in June's EU referendum. But only ex-pats who have been resident outside of the UK for more than 15 years are excluded. Both argued that the EU referendum directly affected them although why Mr Shindler aged 94 is greatly concerned is not clear. But age is not a factor in the EU referendum though it is safe to say the younger generations of the UK and the EU will bear the brunt of the vote in the coming years. Will the BRemain and BRexit camps both going strong the EU referendum is still a tough one to call though gut instinct tells me the 'in' vote will win on the day. As many people struggle deciding which way to vote British people are being bombarded with advice from at home and abroad. Some is fact based other self-serving. One website that tries to offer true facts is Full Fact More: Register to vote Labour supporters get out and vote May 5 UK EU referendum news You have to be in it to win, vote May 5 Join me and vote for UK to stay in EU International Women’s Day, why European Union matters [Shindler and MacLennan's case] They asked the two judges to declare that Section 2 of the EU Referendum Act 2015, which established "the 15-year rule", unlawfully restricted their right to freedom of movement under EU law.
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Op-Ed: It is unusual for this writer to agree with former London Mayor and top Tory Boris Johnson on anything but she does agree with him Monday as he "urges Obama not to intervene in EU debate." US President Barack Obama is expected to make a visit to Great Britain in April. It will be his last as President of the USA as he winds down his second and final term in office. He has already made it plain that he believes the UK is better staying a member country of the EU than leaving and so have some of his advisers. In February NEWTEKWORLDNEWS wrote "John Kerry may want Britain in EU but do you?" But if POTUS allows himself to be dragged into the in /out EU debate here in the UK it will be a mistake and could act like reverse psychology on some voters. Part of the problem is we Brits are fiercely independent and stubborn. We do not and will not take kindly to foreign interference in any shape or form. Will the fact that form of interference from Obama will be advice from the leader of the country often called 'our greatest ally' make it acceptable? Hardly, when only last week he raised a few hackles-"Obama criticises Cameron for having no long term Libya strategy after Gadaffi overthrow" wrote the IBTimes. Seems we are not such great allies after all. At time of writing BBC News says “No 10 has refused to comment on reports that the US president will use the visit to argue for the UK's continued EU membership.” So how come his name in being bandied about and Boris Johnson is saying “it would be "outrageous hypocrisy" for US President Barack Obama to intervene directly in the EU referendum debate.” “The London mayor wrote that it would be "wholly fallacious" of Mr Obama to use any trip to warn that the UK will lose global influence if it quits the EU.” Downing Street, in other words David Cameron’s office, has said Mr Obama and other leaders are "worth listening to" but it will be a fine line between debate and interference. Johnson supports the Brexit group campaigning for the UK to leave the EU whilst PM David Cameron is leading the BRemain campaign for the UK to stay in the EU. But with the Tory government and in fact that political party spilt over Europe the waters are more than muddied. The British electorate face a tough old time deciding whether Cameron’s alleged EU deal warrants an in / out vote on June 23 without everyman and his wife sticking their oars in. For some voters though their minds and so their vote has been decided for years and the deal and views of others will not matter one iota. Obama is due to attend a technology fair in Germany in late April and a source told the Independent on Sunday he would visit the British capital around that time. |
British political scene
The next General Election in the UK may not be scheduled any time soon but the British political landscape is changing. With that in mind this blog will concentrate on the political scene but with a left wing perspective. Opinion pieces and news will bring you the stories that the MSM prefer to ignore. Archives
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