The article below by Peter Hoskin links Work & Pensions Secretary Ian Duncan Smith’s attack on Winter Fuel Allowance (WFA) payments for British expat pensioners, to his known euro-scepticism and aversion to universal benefits:
“Now, it’s not just a matter of protecting “hard-working taxpayers’ money” – aka, deficit reduction – but also of repelling rule from Brussels. It’s almost as though he’s reaching for the collective hand of reluctant Tories, hoping to lead them towards the growing consensus against universal winter fuel payments; a consensus that now includes Labour, the Lib Dems, the Sun, the Telegraph and, er… me.”
There will be a general election in May, 2015 and a referendum on continuing UK membership of the European Union likely in 2017. Shouldn’t you be making sure that you are still registered to vote (by proxy or post from overseas) in the UK e.g. via the Electoral Commission website www.aboutmyvote.co.uk?
If already disenfranchised by the 15-year-rule you can still join our efforts to make your voice heard , by adding your vote here in support of our campaign to remove this arbitrary time limit on our voting rights as British citizens resident abroad.
Votes for Expat Brits blog 