General Election 2019

When you voted for Brexit you forcibly voted to strip those British ex pats living in the EU of their EU citizenship thus ending their status - the question of whether citizenship can be taken away in this fashion is a matter of great concern for those involved.

 

You may think that you are only doing it for those living on your rock, but it is having an effect on the lives of somewhere between 3 and 5 million of your own people who are currently not there. I am sure that you would be happy if for example you were told that you had to return and live in the town that you were born in, or have your rights withdrawn.

 

Why do British people who are politically active in France not try to naturalize themselves Frenchie ? I can think of only one Briton who is mayor of a town in Germany - a Scot, there is one who became minister president of Lower Saxony but he had dual nationality. There are 2 of us on the town council for Engelskirchen but we are both of dual nationality. What is the problem with this in France ?

 

It is good to see that the young voters appear to be turning out in large numbers. Maybe as it is their future at stake, anyone over the age of sixty should be prevented from voting. They have had their chance.

 

Basically because they have no need to. Many Brits think of themselves as Europeans if it bothers them at all. Because I happened to be born in Watford is pure chance, and apart from my affiliation with the football club, I don't feel more British, or French or even German come to that.

 

I repeat you are relying on the decency of your adopted country. If it treats you badly then it deserves to receive your ire.

 

I appreciate that Frenchie - I didn't think I needed to, but it was a practical step - it was also quite an enjoyable process. As far as I am able to calculate, the take up of German nationality amongst British living here is about one in five or six (difficult to calculate exactly). But it was interesting sitting taking a German exam with a group of Rumanians, Syrians Turks and Poles. The naturalization ceremony was very nice. I initially went to the local town hall to enquire what was needed in September 2018 and had the German passport in my hand in March 2019. Getting documents out of the UK was a bit of a problem, but everything else went smoothly. What are the requirements for this in France ? I don't think I have become German, or even that I am British - in fact I don't think in terms of 'nation' at all - the German passport is a European one and that is what matters, however I would love to live in a World without passports of any colour.

 

I doubt if any more than usual will actually vote, there are repeats of Love Island on telly. many are also disappointed with Corbyn.

 

This has nothing to do with the decency of adopted countries SH. The way that EU citizens are treated in the UK will have to be reciprocated the other way around - throughout the EU.

 

Theresa May did attempt to sort this at the beginning of negotiations but the EU refused.

 

As far as knowledge and experience is concerned it is only the over 60s that possess the necessary qualifications to vote. Probably why so many vote Conservative.

 

It sounds very similar to what is required here, but if you are over seventy then no language exam is necessary. There is a huge programme underway of getting documents via the internet at present. My wife has just renewed her driving license that way, free of charge by the way. There are big changes underway to centralise documentation. Previously it was all done on a departmental basis, and the same set of requirements were interpreted in different ways. Over the past two years the requirements are at last making more sense.

 

This is why we'll end up with a Tory majority

 

Diane Abbott was finally allowed out in public so she could vote. She was so excited by her freedom she ended up wearing two left odd shoes.

FFS!!

 

Another Tory lie. She actually attempted to use UK nationals as bargaining chips in the most despicable way.

 

Basically the requirements in Germany are:
1. Proof of 8 years continual residence
2. Evidence of 5 years of payments into the German state pension system (there is leeway on this one)
3. Proof of income for the 3 years prior to naturalization.
4. Proof of linguistic ability (if you haven't taken a professional qualification in Germany then you have to take an exam in the language) - I think they have the 70+ excemption as well.
5. You have to take the test 'Life in Germany', which doubles up as an extra language test.
6. Documents from the UK. Minimum would be a certified copy of the birth certificate - in my case they wanted my divorce certificate as well (this may have to do with the inheritance laws being different here) - or it could be a case of checking up on maintainance.
7. You have to take an oath to live by the constitution of Germany (done both orally and in shrift)
8. You sign an allowance for them to check up on your past with the inland revenue, for outstanding debt, and to check up with criminal records in both countries.

The actual admin. costs for processing the naturalization here are in the region of € 250 (this compares to around 1,300 pounds for the same process in the UK !) Dual nationality is allowed as long as the application was made before the event of a hard Brexit. The actual waiting period is relatively quick here - once I had given them everything required I received the letter of acceptance 2 months later with an invitation to the naturalization ceremony. As far as I can tell the process and requirements are different in different countries - my cousin has become Spanish, and had to give up his British nationality to do this. Also the Spanish language exam is set at a much higher level.

 

It does sound similar, but some of that doesn't apply if you are retired. Friends who have gone through the process found it painfully slow, taking over two years. Both of them had to get divorce papers from England, certified, then translated into French by an approved translator. The cost mounted up over the papers, about £1,200 for the two of them, but the processing fees were small. Many have simply applied for right of residency which has been free and lasts for ten years. The new method they are proposing will be very simple through the Internet system, with a fee of €119.

 

Another politics neutral survey by YouGov

Low and behold the vast majority of the population want nationalised services... Just like those demonized labour politicians

 

And it about time we reduced the number of Scottish MP's in line with their population!

 

rebuild the wall.