One of the most frequent questions Expat Pensions' partners are asked as they meet clients across Europe is what we think will happen to the income and prospects of expats after the next General Election in the UK.

My first reaction is generally to say "Not a lot" and while this may seem rather flippant it is based on two rather pressing points.

Firstly, whichever party takes power in the UK between now and mid-2010, it will have far more on its plate to deal with than tinkering with the arrangements for expats. A rather large deficit, a continuing commitment to support our troops in Afghanistan, swine 'flu and other issues which may not yet have emerged will generally come higher up the list than the plight of the expat.

The other factor is that so few expats take up their right to vote in parliamentary and European elections in their former home country.

A report by the Electoral Commission in late 2008 found that UK citizens living abroad were significantly under-represented on the UK Electoral Register.

There are fewer than 13,500 British expatriates on the electoral register, a tiny fraction of the estimated six million Britons living abroad. Many British expats simply don't realise that they are still eligible to vote in UK elections once they have moved abroad.

But even if you are living abroad, as long as you have been registered to vote in the UK at some point within the past 15 years, you can still be on the register as an "overseas voter". Registered overseas voters are eligible to vote in elections to the UK Parliament and European Parliamentary elections.

In short, you can vote in the UK in person if you are there on the day of an election, by post or by proxy. More information is available from http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/british_citizens_living_abroad.aspx

So let's not hear any more comments about you being out of the loop and your opinions not counting for anything any more.

If a larger percentage of the estimated six million Brits living abroad started to register and take up their right to vote, how long do you think it would be before you saw Gordon "You Tube" Brown or "Call me Dave" strolling down the boulevards of France or pressing the flesh at expat gatherings?

Which brings me back to the frequently asked question on what we at Expat Pensions think might happen to the tax and financial situation of expats after the next General Election?

The answer, my friends, is find your voice and you would be surprised how quickly you will find your preferred party leader's ear!

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