Overseas Electors Bill

Debate between Sandy Martin and Stephen Pound

2nd reading: House of Commons
Friday 23rd February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Sandy Martin]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention, but no, I am not saying any such thing.

[Stephen Pound]

The clue is in the word “private”.

[Sandy Martin]

First, I remind the hon. Gentleman that, as my hon. Friend says from a sedentary position, this is a private Member’s Bill. It is not about the Labour party position. Secondly, I am not in any way seeking to remove the right to vote from people who already have it. There is a sensible cut-off point, but, as I will say later, I do not believe that extending that cut-off point ad infinitum is necessarily a sensible way forward. Thirdly, as I will also come to, not all people who have lived in this country and contributed to the economy of this country have the means or, in many cases, the right to vote.

--- Later in debate ---

[Sandy Martin]

I thank the hon. Gentleman, and I am in my own way already doing such a thing, although not via HMRC.

[Stephen Pound]

I am slightly concerned that we seem to be meandering down some sort of byway, rather than concentrating specifically on the Bill. As a passionate pro-European remainer, I wish that more people who live overseas had been able to vote, as I am sure they would have voted to do the sensible, right and logical thing and remain in the European Union. This may seem a philosophical point, although it is a practical one, but if someone lives in another country, should they not integrate within the polity of that country? By all means they should have 15 years to continue to vote for the motherland, but after that should they not become involved and concerned with the politics of the country in which they live? If they want to live in another country, should they not concentrate their vote there, rather than in the country in which they used to live at least 15 years ago?

[Sandy Martin]

My hon. Friend makes precisely the point that lies at the centre of my argument.

[Stephen Pound]

I am sorry; I did not mean to.

[Sandy Martin]

No, I apologise for not having made that point as clearly as I ought to have done, but that is the point I am seeking to make.