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British citizens who have lived abroad for 15 years are set to regain the right to vote in U.K. elections.
The U.K.’s spring budget, announced on Wednesday, includes a plan to do away with a 2002 rule that excludes British citizens who have lived abroad for over 15 years from the voter roll, the Sunday Times reported.
The plan would restore the vote to thousands of British expatriates who moved abroad to retire or set up businesses, including a number of celebrities such as Rolling Stones rocker Mick Jagger, former Topshop tycoon Philip Green and Virgin’s Richard Branson.
While around 5 million Brits live outside the U.K., the 2019 election saw only 230,000 of them register to vote, according to the country’s Electoral Commission.
“Most of British expats retain deep ties to the UK.,” a Cabinet Office spokesman told the Sunday Times. “Many have family here, are planning to return, have a lifetime of hard work behind them or may even have fought for our country.”
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