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They should get naturalised then. I have met a lot of these British expats, both in the Netherlands and elsewhere. They do not want to get naturalised, even th

They should get naturalised then. I have met a lot of these British expats, both in the Netherlands and elsewhere. They do not want to get naturalised, even though they are long term residents of their host country. I don't know why, but probably something to do with tax reasons. Anyway, they do not want to get naturalised, yet they want to gain all the rights of citizenship. And actually this has nothing to do with the EU. These complaints from these people were present before Brexit was a thing. Freedom of movement is the least of their demands. They want the right to vote and the full package.

jasonkester 9y ago
But, as you say, there are lots of good reasons not to. Better is to keep one's British passport and use it to live wherever one pleases. And, of course, to not vote away the right to do so. Shame so many people did that.
- masklinn 9y ago
  > But, as you say, there are lots of good reasons not to. Surprisingly enough, you can't usually have your cake and eat it too.
  - jasonkester 9y ago
    But we can, currently. That's the current state of affairs. It'll change soon, at the British public's request. But it was a really good thing while it lasted.
gambiting 9y ago
"X should just get naturalised" is an argument that makes my blood boil though. Becoming a citizen is an extremely difficult bureaucratic process that can often fail or be delayed due to no fault of your own. Case in point: I've lived in UK for 8 years now, fully legally as an EU citizen. On paper, I should be able to apply for British citizenship tomorrow and get it without any issues. But I can't, because the Home Office completely disregards EU directive on the freedom of movement and the right to settlement - and yes, I have spoken to many immigration lawyers in the UK about it and they all say that Home Office is breaking the law in this specific case. There even is a case going on against the Home Office in the ECJ - but in the meantime, the reality of the situation is that I can't get a citizenship despite calling this country my home, paying all my taxes and being a law-abiding citizen with 8 years of residence here under my belt. Does that mean that my rights should not be protected, just because I don't have a British passport in my pocket? I'm sure it works exactly the same way in reverse - there are British people who lived in Netherlands, Spain or elesewhere in EU for years, but for many many different reasons they can't become naturalized, because rules are what they are. Doesn't mean we should be suddenly stripping them of the rights they have been able to have for decades. Telling people to "just get naturalised" is not the solution.
- dazc 9y ago
  '...there are British people who lived in Netherlands, Spain or elsewhere in EU for years, but for many many different reasons they can't become naturalized' Because a lot of countries do not allow dual-citizenship and, broad generalisation accepted, people don't want to give up their UK status.

jasonkester 9y ago

But, as you say, there are lots of good reasons not to. Better is to keep one's British passport and use it to live wherever one pleases. And, of course, to not vote away the right to do so. Shame so many people did that.

masklinn 9y ago
> But, as you say, there are lots of good reasons not to. Surprisingly enough, you can't usually have your cake and eat it too.
- jasonkester 9y ago
  But we can, currently. That's the current state of affairs. It'll change soon, at the British public's request. But it was a really good thing while it lasted.

gambiting 9y ago

"X should just get naturalised" is an argument that makes my blood boil though. Becoming a citizen is an extremely difficult bureaucratic process that can often fail or be delayed due to no fault of your own. Case in point: I've lived in UK for 8 years now, fully legally as an EU citizen. On paper, I should be able to apply for British citizenship tomorrow and get it without any issues. But I can't, because the Home Office completely disregards EU directive on the freedom of movement and the right to settlement - and yes, I have spoken to many immigration lawyers in the UK about it and they all say that Home Office is breaking the law in this specific case. There even is a case going on against the Home Office in the ECJ - but in the meantime, the reality of the situation is that I can't get a citizenship despite calling this country my home, paying all my taxes and being a law-abiding citizen with 8 years of residence here under my belt. Does that mean that my rights should not be protected, just because I don't have a British passport in my pocket? I'm sure it works exactly the same way in reverse - there are British people who lived in Netherlands, Spain or elesewhere in EU for years, but for many many different reasons they can't become naturalized, because rules are what they are. Doesn't mean we should be suddenly stripping them of the rights they have been able to have for decades. Telling people to "just get naturalised" is not the solution.

dazc 9y ago
'...there are British people who lived in Netherlands, Spain or elsewhere in EU for years, but for many many different reasons they can't become naturalized' Because a lot of countries do not allow dual-citizenship and, broad generalisation accepted, people don't want to give up their UK status.