About BOVF
What we have done so far
A selected timeline. The Forum was founded in 2023 and has been meeting parliamentarians since autumn 2024.
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BOVF Frozen Pensions Subgroup meets for first time.
BOVF is celebrating as Frozen Pensions activists and campaigners representing British people living in Japan, Thailand, Australia and Malaysia came together to develop a simple plan to end injustice. On 7th September 2026, members of the BOVF Frozen UK State Pension subgroup…
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One Person Can Be Ignored. A Constituency Cannot.
On 7 September, the British Overseas Voters Forum’s Frozen UK State Pension Subgroup met for the first time, bringing together campaigners from across the world with one clear objective: to turn the growing numbers of British citizens overseas into real political influence.
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Parliamentary Motion Supporting Family Reunification for British Citizens
The British Overseas Voters Forum (BOVF) has made encouraging progress in supporting the tabling of an Early Day Motion (EDM) in Parliament that supports the right of British citizens to live in the United Kingdom with their non-UK spouses. For many Britons living…
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Representation of the People Bill: Overseas Voters
The British Overseas Voters Forum (BOVF) has made encouraging progress in bringing the issue of overseas voting to the forefront of parliamentary debate. During the Committee Stage of the Representation of the People Bill 2026, amendments reflecting BOVF proposals were formally debated in…
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Report + Proposals: Voting Reforms for Overseas Citizens
BOVF have published “Recommendations for the United Kingdom to enable voters living overseas to fully and properly participate in national elections with reference to practices adopted in 20 major and relevant countries” Download the report SUMMARY The systems that UK Citizens overseas…
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BOVF discuss expat student fees with Times Higher Education
BOVF speak to the Times Education about university student fees for overseas citizens. BOVF Education Policy Lead, Simon Landy, was interviewed by Times Higher Education to discuss the challenges overseas British citizens face when applying to UK universities, and to outline our…
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BOVF Policy Leads meet James MacCleary MP (Lewes)
BOVF Policy Lead for Spousal Visa’s John Cantrill and Trustee Mike Tuffrey met the MP for Lewes James MacCleary to discuss Overseas Voters and highlight the challenges they face This was a constructive and positive meeting where we discussed the various issues…
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BOVF Chair and Treasurer meet with Martin Wrigley MP (Newton Abbot)
BOVF Chair, Bruce Darrington and Treasurer, Craig Dickson met with the MP for Newton Abbot, Martin Wrigley Martin Wrigley has first hand experience of being a British Citizen Overseas, having grown up in different countries as his father was in the Navy.…
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BOVF attend second APPG on Citizens’ Rights
BOVF attended the second APPG on Citizens’ Rights ‘Britons Abroad’, led by Manuella Perteghella MP and hosted in Westminster. The role of this All Party Parliamentary Group is to “raise awareness of the challenges facing EU citizens in the UK and Britons…
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Introduction with Manuela Perteghella MP – Member, Education Select Committee
On April 1st 2025 BOVF spoke to Manuela Perteghella MP Bruce Darrington, Chair BOVF spoke to Manuela Perteghella MP about her involvement on the Education Committee, and shared the work BOVF have been doing on overseas student fees. Noting that this committee…
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Meeting with Director of Unlock Democracy, Tom Brake.
On April 1st 2025 BOVF met with the Director of Unlock Democracy. We have been working with Unlock Democracy where our policies align – namely evolving voting mechanisms for overseas citizens and the potential for overseas constituencies. On April 1st, BOVF met…
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Meeting with Ian Sollom MP, St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire
In early April 2025 BOVF met with Ian Sollom MP in Westminster. Ian is the Liberal Democrat party spokesperson on Higher Education, so we were keen to discuss our insight on overseas student fees with him. This was the first meeting we…
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Meeting with Chris Hinchliff MP – NE Hertfordshire
On April 1st 2025 BOVF met with Chris Hinchliff MP This meeting was focused on our new policy proposal for overseas student fees. As this was our fourth session with Chris, he was up to speed with the policy came with ideas…
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Meeting with Jack Rankin MP – Windsor
On March 31st 2025 BOVF met with Jack Rankin MP This meeting focused on our new policy for overseas student fees. Jack had been briefed on the policy in previous meetings and was happy to support our common sense proposal. Jack and…
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BOVF in Cambodian News
BOVF is referenced in Cambodian media ‘Kiripost’ in an article by political commentator John Lowrie.
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BOVF Survey Reveals Lack of Awareness About Changes to Voting Rights for Expats
London, [3rd February 2025] – A new survey conducted by the British Overseas Voters Forum (BOVF) has revealed concerning gaps in awareness among British citizens living abroad regarding their voting rights in UK elections. In January 2024, a key amendment to the…
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Met with Joe Powell MP – Kensington & Bayswater
Bruce Darrington (Left) with Sir Roger Gale (Right) On December 19, BOVF Vice Chair Lloyd Hobbard-Mitchell and Bruce Darrington met with Joe Powell Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater. Joe is a renowned anti-corruption in politics campaigner and we enjoyed a wide-ranging…
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Met with Sir Roger Gale MP – Herne Bay and Sandwich
Bruce Darrington (Left) with Sir Roger Gale (Right) On the 17th of December, Bruce Darrington, Chair of BOVF, met with Sir Roger Gale, Conservative MP for Herne Bay and Sandwich in the Commons for Tea. At 81, he is equally the longest-serving…
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Met with Jack Rankin MP – Windsor
On the 17th of December, Caroline Padbury, Trustee of BOVF, and Bruce Darrington met with Jack Rankin, Conservative MP for Windsor, and the head of his parliamentary office, Anna Robinson. We had a good, lively discussion. Jack very much appreciated our input…
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Met with John Cooper MP – Dumfries and Galloway
On the 12th of December, Bruce Darrington, Chair of the BOVF, met John Cooper, Conservative MP for Dumfries and Galloway in Parliament for an extensive discussion. John certainly feels the pressure of being part of a small number of MPs who fulfil…
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Met with Ben Thomas
On the 10th of December, Bruce Darrington, Chair of the BOVF, met with Ben Thomas, head of office for James MacCleary MP, in parliament. Together, they had an extensive briefing and brainstorming session. Ben will have time on behalf of the…
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Lost in the Post
Our mission is to represent and advocate for British citizens residing abroad, ensuring their meaningful participation in the democratic process.
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Met with Chris Hinchliff, MP – North-East Hertfordshire
On the 26th of September, Bruce Darrington, Chair of BOVF, met Chris Hinchliff, Labour MP for North-East Hertfordshire, for a coffee in Royston. It was the same shop where Bruce had met Chris during the General Election campaign. They discussed all the…
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Met with James MacCleary, MP – Lewes
On the 25th of September, Bruce Darrington had lunch with James MacCleary, the Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes, in the constituency. Over lunch, James agreed to be the Champion for our policy on Spousal Reunion rules (for British citizens who marry foreign…
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EDM (Early Day Motion)122: tabled on 02 September 2024
BOVF is very pleased that an early-day motion: The link to the Early Day Motion is HERE: https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/62445 That this House notes that the Elections Act 2022 increased the number of UK citizens living abroad that are eligible to vote in UK…
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Met with Candidate for Thanet East
Polly was very receptive of the issues of British Overseas Voters being campaigned for by the #BOVF We finished the conversation, confirming that we would meet up after the election to put more flesh on the bones. Polly will also be sending…
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Talked to Candidate for Herne Bay & Sandwich
Sir Roger made himself available to chat about the issues of British Overseas Voters being campaigned by the #BOVF Either in spite of, or because of his being probably the most active politician in terms of expat issues and being acutely aware…
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Talked to Candidate for Bracknell
Ed Vickers explained to Peter about a number of the BOVF Key Issues. Frozen Pensions: Peter is sympathetic and would likely support calls for a Labour government to seriously look into this. Spousal Visa: Peter was aware of, and concerned about the…
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Talked to Candidate for City of London & Westminister
BOVF representative Simon Landy talked on the telephone to Rachel Blake, Labour candidate for City of London & Westminster. Simon introduced Rachel to the BOVF key issues, discussing frozen pension and the right to a UK bank. Rachel confirmed she would consider them.…
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Jo’s Story
I moved to the Netherlands before Brexit – it functions much better than the UK. Joanna Darrington, 34, said it was easier for her and her partner to live in the Netherlands than in the UK due to visa restrictions. By Taz…
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Edward’s Story
By Taz Ali Senior world reporter iNews May 2, 2024 Professor Vickers will again vote for the Liberal Democrats, saying he was not swayed into voting Labour. Edward Vickers, a British professor, said his Japanese wife has had problems with obtaining a UK…
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Colin’s Story
By Taz Ali Senior world reporter iNews May 2, 2024 Colin Mason, 63, who can vote in a general election for the first time since 2015, says he is unlikely to vote the Tories back into power Colin Mason, who has lived…
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Anthony’s Story
By Taz Ali Senior world reporter iNews May 2, 2024 Anthony Peters, 79, says he has had to stop his regular hospital appointments to cut costs Anthony Peters moved to Thailand 10 years ago to be with his wife May (Photo: Anthony…
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John’s Story
By Taz Ali Senior world reporter iNews May 2, 2024 While the Asian country is more affordable than the UK, John Jones says it is getting harder to support his family on just £75 a week state pension John Jones lives with…
A note on how to read this
None of the above is a change in the law. What it represents is a set of proposals moving from nowhere to the floor of a Commons committee in under two years, with the government obliged to respond on the record. That is the stage we are at, and we would rather say so plainly than overstate it.
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