Ex-Pats lose right to vote in EU referendum

BRITISH ex-pats have lost their battle for the right to vote in the European referendum.

By The Newsroom

Published 20th May 2016, 12:31 BST

Updated 20th May 2016, 13:37 BST

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Ex-pats lost right to vote in EU referendum: Picture: Ian Georgeson

The Court of Appeal upheld a Government rule that says Britons who have lived in other EU countries for more than 15 years are not eligible to vote on 23 June.

EU referendum poll: 76 per cent of Scots against Brexit

The appeal judges declared the rule did not unlawfully interfere with the right of ex-pats to freedom of movement within the European Union.

The test case was brought by London-born war veteran Harry Shindler, 95, who has lived in Italy for 35 years, and solicitor Jacquelyn MacLennan, 54, from Inverness, who has lived in Brussels since 1987.

She has specialised in EU competition and environmental law, and is now a partner in the Brussels’ office of a global law firm.

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