LETTER: Unacceptable referendum

It may seem harsh, and will certainly upset many people in the UK, but I do not accept the result for Britain to leave the EU. I hereby declare the result of the EU referendum to be null and void!
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Feb 2017, 12:00 BST

The reason for my action is that many thousands of Brits who live throughout Europe were not given the right to vote in the referendum. Normally so-called ex-pat Brits may not vote in UK elections – after all, they don’t live in the UK and are seldom affected by any UK election, or its outcome. But in this instance a very large group of British nationals is seriously affected by the decision for Britain to leave the EU.

It may well be that, as non- EU residents, they will all have to apply for residence and work permits in those countries that have been their home for, in many cases, many years. They will probably have to apply for visas to enter, reside and work in the UK, as well as other restrictions at present unknown. This is a very serious matter which PM Theresa May must consider before she presses the Article 50 button.

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A full second referendum is not necessary. However, even if it means a delay of several months, ex-pat Brits throughout Europe must demand that the decision to leave the EU be rescinded until all have had their say. The voting can be done via the UK embassies in each country, and the overall result (ie not the individual result from each embassy/country) be added to that originally announced.

A new result could very well turn the ‘yes’ to leave into a ‘yes’ to stay in. I suspect the original real reason to exclude such overseas votes was taken by those in power who foresaw a strong vote to stay in the EU, and for some that was not acceptable; better not to permit such British nationals the right to vote at all.

PHILIP GROVES

Vaxjo, Sweden (previously resident in Pevensey)

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