Voting: UK Overseas Citizens

Lord Kennedy of Southwark Excerpts

Monday 6th July 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bridges of Headley]

My Lords, the franchise for the EU referendum is obviously based on the parliamentary franchise, and that is what we intend to stick to.

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab)]

My Lords, will the commitment to extend voting rights to UK citizens living overseas also include their right to make donations to political parties in the UK? Does the noble Lord think that it is right that, when an individual has been living overseas for 20, 25, 30, maybe even more than 40 years, donations can be made from income that has neither been earned in this country nor had UK tax paid on it?

[Lord Bridges of Headley]

My Lords, when we publish the Bill we will make all these matters clear.