Expats Urged By David Cameron to Vote “Remain” At EU Referendum
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| British Expats need asked to Vote to stay in the EU |
He delivered a speech at the headquarters of Easyjet in
Luton in which he called for all expats living abroad to vote to remain in the
EU if they wanted to guarantee their rights to live and work abroad.
The PM was rather passionate during his speech in which he
talked about the benefits that expats receive such as reciprocal healthcare,
their inflation-adjusted pensions, and the right to buy property, are only
guaranteed if the UK stays. They are not guaranteed if the UK was to leave the
EU.
Brits living in other EU countries are currently able to
benefit from many agreements designed to allow people to move freely between
member nations. Spanish expats are also able to benefit from the reciprocal
healthcare agreement. This essentially means that the NHS pays the Spanish
healthcare system to cover the medical costs of British people living there.
Spain returns the favour and pays for the medical costs of
Spaniards living in the UK. This deal was arranged under the rules of the EU.
David Cameron is unsure this agreement can last if the UK was to leave Europe.
Another deal in place for British expats is that their
pensions in Spain will rise along with inflation each year. This deal was made
under the umbrella of the EU. Without the EU there is a strong chance that such
an agreement would be rescinded and British pensioners abroad shall have their
pensions frozen instead. This is the case for British retirees living in places
like Canada, Australia, and the USA.
When it comes to property it is definitely possible for a
non-EU citizen to purchase property in Spain. Without the EU agreements however
people have to jump through many hoops due to requiring visas, residency
permits, and there is a lot of work involved in getting a mortgage. Brits are
currently able to purchase a home in Spain with the difficulty, or lack of,
that it takes to purchase a home in the UK. While it is true that Spain would
no doubt want to set up an agreement to protect the British market, one of
their strongest for real estate, there is also the chance that the Spanish
government will see the Brexit as a chance to charge British buyers fees in
return for keeping it simple.
It would be almost impossible for Spain to pass such fees
and regulations while both countries remain in the EU.
Cameron and his other politican allies in the “Remain” camp such as Labour leader Jeremy Corbin, understand they need to speak carefully when talking about the EU. One problem with all the talk about staying and leaving is that there is no guarantee about what will happen if the UK does leave the EU.
Cameron took all of this and delivered a pitch-perfect
speech, focusing mainly on the certainties of staying - with a focus on free
movement, healthcare access, fewer regulations on buying property, and better
pensions – over the uncertainties that could come from a Brexit.
It seems like all the campaigning from the Remain camp has
managed to deliver the message.
