“Mistigri
I find it quite upsetting that there are remainers who think that the voice of the British in Europe doesn't deserve to be heard. We are the single most affected group: Brexit affects my right to vote (after Brexit, I have fewer voting rights than a Victorian woman), it affects my right to be a carer for my elderly mum if she needs me, it affects my job (British company), it affects my rights to continue to live in my own home.
Also, and I can't speak for the Brits in Spain, but I don't know anyone living in France who voted leave. Most didn't vote at all because of the 15 year rule or the shambles of the postal vote system, but I have often been surprised to learn that people defied stereotypes and voted remain”
Came back in again because I wanted to apologise for being offensive to you Mistigri. Been thinking about this a lot overnight, about other people’s comments. You’re right, of course, there are many people living and working in Europe with every right to express their opinion via the UK ballot box, they are British citizens with every intention of returning home.
The group I am so angry with, and it’s such a visceral thing that the red mist descends so no, I probably don’t consider the bigger, far more nuanced picture, are the retirees who have made their permanent homes in EU countries, cut all ties with the UK and have absolutely no intention of ever returning. People in their 60/70s whose lives won’t be negatively affected by my country being cut adrift (unless of course there’s no deal and they’re all sent packing, though I doubt that possibility entered their heads) contributed to this appalling outcome that will negatively affect my childrens’ lives for decades. They should have a right to a say in that when my 16 year old son has none? I do unfortunately personally know people in that group in Spain who did vote to leave: went to great lengths to exercise their “right” with much flag waving jingoism and apparent disdain for their European hosts. Ask them now if they plan then to return to these glorious new sunny uplands when the decision they played a part in implementing is enacted? A hollow laugh and not on your life is the usual response. It’s disgusting.
Would reiterate though, we would like to retire to Portugal but for practical reasons beyond our control it is unlikely. If it were to happen though, and in the specific circumstance of not intending to return, I would not consider that I had the moral right to vote in UK elections for 15 years thereafter, I would consider that I had that right where I lived, where the implications of my vote could possibly affect me personally. If we then found we had to return to the UK for whatever reason years later, we would just have to adapt to the circumstances that had evolved during the absence we had chosen.