Summer campaign highlights lack of representation for overseas voters

New Europeans UK, Unlock Democracy and British Overseas Voters Forum launch postcard campaign calling on MPs to support our proposal for overseas constituencies

Tuesday, 19 August 2025

Overseas constituencies

British citizens living overseas are impacted in many practical ways by decisions in Westminster and yet have no effective representation. Access to health care and pension rights are just two such examples.

That is why New Europeans UK, together with Unlock Democracy and British Overseas Voters Forum have been calling for the creation of overseas constituencies.

Many other countries, including France and Italy have such arrangements. The globe is divided into several regions with a dedicated MP elected for each region.

To highlight the campaign, the three organisations have joined forces to launch a postcard campaign targeting MPs .

Take part in the campaign

If you are a British resident abroad, you can take part in the campaign by sending a postcard to your MP (the MP for the constituency where you were last on the electoral register or where you may still be listed as an overseas voter).

The postcard could have a message such as the following:

‘I love living and working here and may want to retire here, but I still have very close ties with the UK. If ever you are in town, let’s catch up and mull over the benefits of having an MP whose main role is representing UK citizens abroad.’

Send it to your MP at: House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A OAA

Launching the campaign, Ruvi Ziegler, Chair of New Europeans UK said:

“British citizens abroad deserve more effective and efficient representation, tailored to their interests and concerns. Overseas constituencies can help close this gap”.

If you do send a postcard to your MP, please write to Else Kvist, our campaigns coordinator, to let us know. You might also like to send us a photo of you posting or writing the card for our website.

Else’s email address is: else.kvist@neweuropeans.uk (Abre numa nova janela)

It would also be really helpful if you could email your MP after a few days to find out if they have received your postcard. If you know others who have sent a postcard to their MP, please ask them to do the same.

Campaign alliance

As well as New Europeans UK, Unlock Democracy and British Overseas Voters Forum the following organisations are supporting the campaign:

Bremain in Spain, Brexpats - Hear Our Voice, Labour International, Liberal Democrats Abroad, Liberal Democrats Overseas

Find out more about New Europeans UK

If you would like to find out more about the work New Europeans UK is doing with British citizens abroad and EU citizens in the UK, please click below:

Join as a Friend of New Europeans UK

Our campaigns are supported by a network of friends and volunteers. Our Friends provide the dedicated resources we need to support our ongoing campaign work (funds and/or volunteering). We would be delighted if you would consider signing up and supporting us in this way.