Gulf Tories Meeting

The Gulf Tories held held its regional meeting in Bahrain earlier today. Members from Conservatives Abroad branches across the Gulf gathered to discuss a range of subjects including voting rights for long term British expats and matters related to UK inward investment.

Gulf Tories
10 June 2010

British urged to register soon as election date approaches - The National Newspaper

source: loveday morris, the national, abu dhabi

ABU DHABI // The 200,000 Britons living in the UAE are being urged to register for voting as a general election looms.

No date has yet been set for the election, but it is widely expected to take place on May 6. Those who leave registration until the election is announced will have just a six-day window to post their forms.

“The key really is that people should register as soon as possible,” said Euan Holloway, a spokesman for the Electoral Commission, an independent watchdog.

“If you wait for the announcement, you’ve only got six working days to register, so if you are out in the UAE, and have to post your registration forms back to the UK, that doesn’t leave much time. To minimise the risk of missing out, we are saying do it now.”

The election will be announced 17 working days before Britain goes to the polls, with the deadline for registration 11 working days before the vote. British citizens living abroad can register as overseas voters if they registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years.

There are several voting options – postal voting, proxy voting or proxy postal voting, but all involve posting registration forms back to Britain. Residents cannot vote at the British Embassy.

The commission said voters further afield should not use postal ballots since they were sent out about a week before the election.

“The rule of thumb we say to everyone outside Europe is proxy is probably best unless you have a superb postal system,” said Mr Holloway.

Using the proxy vote option, an overseas resident can nominate a person they trust to vote on their behalf. If that person does not live in the same constituency, they can vote through a postal proxy vote.

Full details and registration forms are available at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.

Do you live in Hammersmith or Fulham?

Do you live in Hammersmith or Fulham? If so then the British Conservative Party are saying that your country needs you!

Calling from one of the most marginal of seats in the UK, Hammersmith and Fulham's campaign worker Tara Douglas-Home has contacted Gulf Tories to ask expats to register and vote for the Conservatives.

"Our constituency is one of the most closely fought in the country. Even an extra 100 votes from Londoners based in the Gulf could decide the vote in our Hammersmith and that in turn could make a real difference to the result of the General Election overall."

"In the 2000 US Presidential election just a handful of votes in Florida decided Bush's victory over Al Gore.", says Heather Harper, Patron of Gulf Tories, "We think that there are around 10 constituencies in Britain where the result could be as significant. Hammersmith and Fulham is one of those seats and we have pledged to get their message out in the Middle East."

Anyone British citizen who has a property in Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush or is registered to vote open is able to play a part.

Whatever your Party, for more information on how to register and vote either contact Gillian Fischer, Campaign Co-ordinator for Gulf Tories (gillian.fischer@gulftories.com) or visit these websites www.dontleaveyourvoteathome.com and www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/british_citizens_living_abroad.aspx

"Want to make a difference?"

Britain's ‘Conservatives Abroad’ are pushing out the urgent message to UK nationals that they can make a difference in the forthcoming general election.

To be able to vote and make a difference, Britons abroad must register before the end of March. All British citizens who have been registered in a constituency at any point over the last fifteen years are entitled to vote and this year every vote will count.

In the latest polls the Conservative lead over Labour is just 2%. This is well within the margin of error of polling and essentially means that the vote could go either way.

For those of any party wanting to make a difference, Gulf Tories are recommending that potential voters visit one of these two sites http://www.dontleaveyourvoteathome.com or www.aboutmyvote.co.uk to download the Electoral Commission's registration form. They also recommend that to ensure votes arrive on time it is best to nominate friends or relations to act as proxy.

For further comment on British politics or advice on how to register and vote please contact: Gillian Fischer at gillian.fischer@gulftories.com

Electoral Commission: Please exercise your right to vote!

Conservatives Abroad Bahrain receives William Hague, Liam Fox and Hugo Swire

Following our Honorary Chairman’s letter a few days ago, we also have a number of other highlights to point out.

First of all we would like to personally thank those of you who took the time to join us last Wednesday, it was a wonderful opportunity to get to meet a lot of new faces and also some familiar ones. The overwhelming support we have received has been very encouraging and we hope to build on this momentum and organize a number of events in the near future. For those of you that were unable to join us we do hope that you will be able to make it to our next events.

Having discussed with a number of you the need to get senior political figures to visit us in the Gulf and also the feeling of under representation that has been prevalent in the past we are pleased to let you know that results have already been achieved. This weekend, along with the BBBF leaders, we were able to meet a number of politicians who have explicitly expressed their support for our development as a group. Rt Hon William Hague, Shadow Foreign Secretary, and Dr Liam Fox, Shadow Secretary of State for Defense, met with us on Saturday morning at the Ritz Carlton where we were able to discuss with them the great opportunities that lay in the Gulf with the expat community and the need for greater representation. Both expressed their personal support for Gulf Tories and acknowledged the importance of renewing ties that have been allowed to lie fallow under the Labour government.

Additionally, William Hague said “I am delighted that British Conservatives in Bahrain has been established, they are further helping to strengthen the vital political and business ties between Britain and Bahrain which will be an important policy of an incoming Conservative Government”

Dr Liam Fox added, “This wonderful organisation enables British subjects to maintain their political interest in home and emphasises the importance to Britain of one of our closes friends in the Gulf”

British Conservatives Abroad hold private inaugural drinks in Bahrain

British conservatives abroad holds private inaugural drinks in Bahrain