Sir, As an Englishman living in Ireland who chooses to not to exercise his UK vote, I read with interest John Waters's article on why emigrants should be given the vote. He dismisses many factors against this extension of the franchise such as "No representation without taxation" and the lack of. knowledge of political and cultural conditions possessed by emigrants in favour of a clause in the constitution which states that all citizens shall have the right to vote.
Unfortunately, he neglects the crucial fact that people who are not subject to a government should not vote for that government. Why should the day to day affairs of those who live in a country be affected by people who will remain unaffected by the out come of their votes? Much as I believe that Britain desperately needs a change of government (and constitution), I will not vote in May because I live here.
It is also worth noting that most emigrants are not disenfranchised, those who go to Britain receive the same voting rights as I do here. It is also worth noting that most emigrants are not disenfranchised, those who go to Britain receive the same voting rights as I do here.
Please do not think me hostile to emigrants, I believe that Ireland's great hope lies in the return of her successful emigrants together with the knowledge and experience gained working in other countries and cultures. When they return, and my experience is that slowly the more recent leavers are coming back, let them then exercise their franchise. - Yours, etc.,
Monkstown,
Co Dublin.