“In the House of Lords on 15 June, Rt Hon Ken Clarke, Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor in the new British Government, addressed a meeting of over 100 British expats who had travelled to the Reception in London . Seven members of Conservatives Abroad in Jávea heard Ken, probably the most experienced member of the new Government given his 40 years in Parliament and 5 Cabinet positions, warn of hard times ahead. He said that as a result of the need to reduce the massive British debt, left as a legacy of the Labour Government, and to set the country back on course for a successful future, there would be many difficult but necessary decisions to take. He invited the audience to support the coalition, saying that although it was not what he would have liked, it was certainly the best possible chance of steering Britain through the current crisis.
Margaret Hales, Chairman of Conservatives Abroad in Jávea, said “Ken spoke as usual with great knowledge and common sense but he left the best bit until the last few minutes of his speech. He told us that Prime Minister David Cameron had asked Nick Clegg to oversee proposals for changes in the electoral system. This would include proposals to abolish the restriction on British Citizens living overseas being able to vote, the so-called 15-year rule. This would honour the Conservative election pledge. We are delighted with this news. We have been campaigning for years for our democratic right to be restored”. Margaret added “I encourage all who supported this change to write in with their support. We must continue lobbying right up until the universal right to vote is restored onto the statute book and I invite everyone to write to Nick Clegg or the Electoral Commission so that they are in no doubt of the depth of feeling on this matter.”