For not voting in the election

[Copenhagener]

Fairly straightforward issue, but getting two very different answers so I thought I’d throw it to Mumsnet.

I am a British citizen but I’ve lived in another country for 5 years and I’m now getting permanent residency here. My partner is my new country’s nationality and my child will be too (still baking!). I don’t intend to move back to the U.K. ever and have no real connections left there.

Is it unreasonable for me to not vote in the upcoming U.K. general election?

My opinion is that I shouldn’t be voting for issues that don’t impact me and my life; and when I won’t move back. AIBU?

Other people have said it’s my civic duty to vote if I still hold British citizenship, regardless of where I live. Especially in an important election.

What does Mumsnet think? Would be great to hear from other emigrants too.

Voting is still a choice, you can choose not to vote for a whole host of reasons.

Please vote.

The smaller the majority the winning candidate has, the more chances they will pay to local issues. Assuming you don't hate the place in the UK you are leaving, do that as a kindness to your former town/city/village you lived in.

Or just vote to help us get the Tories out.

Do you still have parents here in UK? Government policy / NHS / social care will affect the rest of their Iives - and by default yours.

I would want to vote in this election is particular, to allow the UK a chance to start a recovery from the last 14 years. Maybe not so much when less was at stake politically / socially, and when you've been away for longer and created more of a life elsewhere.

As someone who emigrated to the UK and stopped voting in my home country as a result because I didn't see the point - I regret it. My home country has made it so incredibly difficult in recent years for people like myself who don't live there but still have citizenship to even visit. They're closing down our bank accounts etc. I'm now a second class citizen without the same rights as the rest of my family. It's genuinely heartbreaking.

So I'd still vote if you can. It might matter more than you think!

UK is still one of the largest economies in the world. The Conservative party has reduced UK taking a leading role in climate change and aid to poorer countries which eg supported girls education. They have made it harder to buy British food in Europe (if you still like to buy it) They have prioritised poor animals welfare farming in Australia over high welfare UK farming. If you think any of these things might be important to you or your unborn child's future you might want to vote. I'm not sure how votes from expat works but I expect a vote for labour would be best (unless you are somehow linked to a constituency where the libdems are the main challenger).

Do you still have family in the UK?
What do you want for them?

You emigrated
Why should you have any rights in your old country?

Why even post this?

It is bonkers that ex-pats still have a vote here, particularly as that can fuck everything up, yet not affect the voter in their brit enclave

Because I'm still a citizen? It's where I was born and raised. I still have part of my pension pot there, just no way of accessing it when the time comes. Surely no one thinks that's an ok situation to be in?!

Yanbu. I have dual citizenship but have never lived in the country of my original nationality (it's my absent dad's).

I've never voted there on principle, although I'm entitled to and actually registered to. It wouldn't be fair (in my opinion) to meddle as I have no intention of ever living there, and it would indirectly dilute the votes of people who do live there and for whom the outcome really matters.

However, ever since I got naturalised and got my British citizenship (I live here in the uk), I've voted here with vim. I consider it both a right and a responsibility.

I think you could just see how you feel on the day of the election. If you want to vote then, please do, but if not, you don’t need to if you don’t wish to. Just play it by ear and see how you feel. One of the best things about our society (however awful it can be at times) is that we are free to use how and if we want to vote, so I’d suggest just using that to guide your decision.

Whether you like it or not, as an ex-pat she does have a right to vote.

Oh, of course you should be able to access funds you have
But in terms of participating in 'citizen-associated' activities, no. Those rights are forefit once you go to live in another country.
Why should some green-speedo wearing ex-pat living in a gated community of english ex-pats with an old red lion/mother reilly pub and sunday roasts, vote in a UK election when they are contributing nothing to this country.

@Copenhagener

if your parents still live here, or you care about other peoples parents or people about to reach pension age, I think you'd be wise to vote. Have you heard about Starmers intention to tax pensioners?

people who want Tories out at any cost, must be woefully ignorant at the 'cost' of that. The impact it would have on many walks of life would be catastrophic.

Shocking if you think this is what all people who emigrate are doing. There is more to the world than Costa del Sol you know.

OP I am back in UK now but when I was abroad, I voted because it affected my family and what life would be like if/when I returned

Her rights are not 'forefit' when she is living in another country, clearly.

was there any need to be so rude about people living overseas?

Should we be voting FOR anyone else other than our under voting age children? It doesn’t feel in the spirit of democracy.

My opinion is that I shouldn’t be voting for issues that don’t impact me and my life; and when I won’t move back. AIBU?

YANBU. It is your choice but if you don't live here and are not returning within the next parliament then I don't think you should feel you have to vote.

I do get what you're saying, but I think you're forgetting that I'm still directly affected by the outcome of the election. I'm perfectly fine with the fact that I can't get free healthcare there anymore and have to pay as though I'm a foreigner seeing as I don't pay any kind of income tax there at the moment (although I do pay tax on my savings!) but I still think I should retain the right to vote as I'm directly affected by the results. It affects my life and that of my children, so I should get a say.

Here we go.

There are plenty of pensioners who pay tax already. In any case there's no reason why well off pensioners shouldn't pay their way.

And I'm a pensioner who pays tax.

Vote for the better good of the country.

Sure, but the vote I cast is for my belief in the better good of the country. Everyone gets their own vote to represent their own belief. To cast a vote for what you believe to be a benefit for a family member or friend, when they get their own vote, seems off – whether you know who they vote for or not.

Don’t scaremonger. Many pensioners already pay tax.

Well how I vote is for the better of everyone