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Expatriates are allowed to vote in elections here up to 15 years after they leave, and they receive a pension provided they have worked in the UK for long enough. But should they?

I can see why someone on holiday shouldn't be denied their vote (though an odd time to be on a relaxing holiday if it involves the hassle of voting from abroad), similarly someone on a business trip etc, but why should someone get to vote on something that doesnt affect them? I'd say 5 years is enough to say with some certainty that someone intends not to return (though of course they might change their mind if their plans go awry), maybe even less. What do you think?

As for pensions, expats recently failed to get their pension increased in line with inflation, as currently they're paid what they would have been back when they retired - say that was £5 back in the day, 20 or so years on today, they're getting £5 a week still. That might seem stingy, but I'd argue that pensioners in the UK still contribute to our economy by buying stuff from here (expats in the EU have their pensions inflation proofed, so the argument works for the larger economy too), whereas someone living in Australia doesn't, so actually pensioners who remain in the UK contribute in part to their own pensions whereas an expat is a pure drain. Also, it isn't as if people are forced to leave the country, so nobody's being held to ransom.

Finally, whilst this is probably a long long way in the future for most of you, would you leave the UK after you retire? That is, you'd spend most of your working life here, then leave at the end of it. Would retaining full voting rights and a full size pension until death change your mind if you said no?

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