Bluster from Boris?

At some point between now and the time of the referendum, I expect there to be a major event that might prove decisive for the course of the referendum – and the optimistic says it might be the result of a statement made by Boris Johnson. Unfortunately with so much of the fluff and bluster that he spouts, there is a fear that it might cocoon any bombshell that he might drop, the detonation of which could permanently damage his “Brexit” campaign. Continue reading “Bluster from Boris?”

Why should an expat vote in the UK’s Referendum?

Having recently given interviews to wetheeu.com and to thelocal.at, which will both appear online in due course, one of the questions that seems to have figured in both interviews as well as in conversations about the referendum with friends, both in the UK and Austria, who have been apathetic and asked why I am trying to persuade people to register and vote in the UK’s referendum, particularly given the fact that I am unlikely to return to the UK to live or work. A selection of the reasons I have given are below: Continue reading “Why should an expat vote in the UK’s Referendum?”

Am I am atypical British Expat in Vienna?

On Saturday I spoke to Rebecca and her husband, who were in Vienna as part of their journey throughout the EU’s 28 Member States – in their wetheeu.com project. On this leg of their trip Vienna was part of their route from Germany through Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, before heading on to Malta, Sicily, Italy, Croatia and Slovenia. Part of their project in addition to the interviews with British Expats throughout the UK is also to explore parts of the countries they visit – rather than just a pure capital city hop. Continue reading “Am I am atypical British Expat in Vienna?”

One month gone – three to go until the referendum…

Amazingly a month has flown by since the date of the referendum being set for 23rd June. Since then, the topic has become one of the central focuses of my reading – particularly in light of the fact that I have been trying to mug up about the impact of it and to be better informed to in turn place myself in a position to be able to inform others. I’ve had requests from journalists requesting interviews and asking for my 2 pence / 3 Eurocents worth, and have answered all sorts of questions about Expat life. Continue reading “One month gone – three to go until the referendum…”

wetheeu.com – travelling Europe between now and 23 June

wetheeuIt seems as though my blog has caught a few people’s attention – to date I have just spread it through a few interested friends and notified people through Facebook about my new posts on an as and when basis. Some friends have been kind enough to share posts or have commented and read the blog – I am sure that having chosen my blog to mention that I have a newborn son might have something to do with that though!
Continue reading “wetheeu.com – travelling Europe between now and 23 June”

As we pass through the 100 days to go mark… Taking stock.

Yesterday saw T-100 days until the UK Referendum. For many in the UK, the issue has been getting saturation coverage since the Prime Minister announced the date of the referendum, only just over 3 weeks ago.

Yesterday saw T-100 days until the UK Referendum. For many in the UK, the issue has been getting saturation coverage since the Prime Minister announced the date of the referendum, only just over 3 weeks ago. With the Presidential Election in the US still rumbling on and with nearly another 8 months until the vote there, even the prospect of a referendum a mere three months away seems to be too much for some citizens in the UK. In Austria we have the Presidential election coming up too, however despite not being able to vote in either the referendum in the country of my birth and upbringing, and the country whose citizenship I hold, the whole UK Referendum still captivates me more than the position of President of Austria – a widely ceremonial position. Continue reading “As we pass through the 100 days to go mark… Taking stock.”

Spread the word…

To tie in with vote registration day last month (4 Feb 2016), the consular services at the British Embassy passed on the information below. Its message has proven to be that many people are not aware of their eligibility to vote. Through the website that I help to run (vienna-expats.at) I have passed on the message, as well as sharing the information through various Facebook groups. It seems that as with the Swiss referendum, the key is to increase awareness among eligible voters – the ten pointers below are doing the rounds among expat circles here in Vienna and one of the features of their voter information round robin is the abiding message to spread the word – a sort of electoral evangelism.

Continue reading “Spread the word…”

A tale of two governors

Current Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney and his predecessor Mervyn King have both commented on the referendum this week.

There has been substantial reporting of Mark Carney’s comments regarding the effect of a potential Brexit on the financial stability of the UK. Rather than to choose a British paper, with a Bremain leaning, I’ve chosen to look at the reporting in the Wall Street Journal. Part of the side issue is that of Central Bank independence – and Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg – a SW England Tory MP – attacked Carney’s remarks, claiming that they were an example of “political partisanship” that affected the BoE’s “Olympian detachment”. Continue reading “A tale of two governors”

Stratifications of citizenship (or First Class, Second Class, Worst Class…)

With the Freedoom of Movement being essential within the EU – it being exactly what has allowed me to stay and work in Austria as a UK national, another issue was alerted to me, which may affect fewer people, but which until recently would have affected someone no less prominent in the Brexit referendum than Boris Johnson.
Continue reading “Stratifications of citizenship (or First Class, Second Class, Worst Class…)”