Re: someone best mention it
 

177,878 in 2011 according to your link, Dave. Don't understand the point you're making...are you saying, if you're a British citizen, but not born here, you shouldn't have the right to vote? :confused:

Re: someone best mention it
 

Funny enough you've got it wrong as usual, I know a lot more people connected to HBC, who are not elected members, anyway you wouldn't be referring to the same person that Graham Jones hates so much would you;)

Re: someone best mention it
 

My take on that is there should be a qualifying period, I always though it was 5 years, but might be wrong, mind you, I think GB is the only country in the world that start doling out social funds the minutes people land on these shores, no wonder everybody wants to come here as they get sod all in the likes of France, Germany etc., as an Asian said the other week when he was interview by a national newspaper, we come to Britain because they're a soft touch

Re: someone best mention it
 

I suppose the point I'm trying to get across Wynn is that although only British citizens are allowed to vote, there is a large number of migrants who still have ties & connections to their place of origin & whose loyalties may not truly lie in the UK's interest, but they have "British Citizenship".

That being the case, their vote wouldn't necessarily be deemed in the interest of the "host" nation.

Re: someone best mention it
 

Maybe it's time to start naming tools. Let's, for example, call a spade a spade. If the experience in GB is anything like ours, we are talking mainly of one group, one that shares certain religious beliefs:rolleyes: Canadians originally from Italy, China, the Carribbean, Portugal, Korea etc., etc., quickly become Canadians ... oh, and Brits fit in too:D They still maintain cultural "ties": Chinese New Year is a big celebration, as is Carabana in TO. When the World Cup is on, or the Euros, the Portuguese support Portugal, Italian Canadians ... well, you get the picture. There are a few groups ... Tamils and some extreme Sikhs whose loyalties are "iffy"; but the muslims ... now that's a whole different thing. Not only do they want their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, they want their own law; they want respect for customs and beliefs which go against the grain of what it means to be a Canadian ... Their "honour killings" come to mind:rolleyes:, and a profound unwillingness to recognize over half the population as being fully human. And I believe it was Canadians from this group who were involved in the Algeria hostage taking incident.

Re: someone best mention it
 

I'm sure you're right Dave, but it's hardly fair to deprive ordinary, well-intentioned non-British born citizens of their right to vote, because of this. The innocent suffering because of the guilty has become way too prevalent in this country (raising booze prices is just one example) and this, to me, seems yet another example of this syndrome.

Re: someone best mention it
 

Didn't intend for the decent amongst them to be deprived, it's just a situation which as you say is ever more prevalent through UK. I think that for votes to count you should have to turn up in person, with undeniable proof of your identity & eligibility, those overseas should attend an embassy / military site or some such to confirm their right.

Re: someone best mention it
 

Well its always been the same with me Eric, you want to live here in my country fine, no problem, but you except our way of life, our laws and regulations, and if your not prepared to do that, close the plane door quietly on the way out of Heathrow, end of story

Re: someone best mention it
 

Would agree with you on that one, but we're now moving onto another subject, postal voting, which has become a farce in my view. :(

Re: someone best mention it
 

Right with you there Brother. :)

Re: someone best mention it
 

It is now Wyn, its just a way for all political parties to, as they say, get their vote out, if your supporters are signed up for a PV you don't have to chase them on polling day, I've had a PV virtually since I was first able to vote, firstly for work purposes then for health reasons, in fact I've just renewed mine this morning, you have, by law, to sign up for it every 5 years. However, there are a lot of problems with PVs for all parties, because the way certain sections of our community think they are entitled to use these votes as they see fit, which is illegal, yet it keeps cropping up;)