UK King’s Speech and Britons in France: postal votes and closer EU links

The recent King’s Speech in the UK, outlining the government’s legislative agenda for the coming parliamentary year, included pledges to strengthen ties with the EU and improve the efficiency of postal voting. 

The former, via a proposed European Partnership Bill, aims to make it easier to implement agreements between the UK and EU on issues such as food and drink, electricity and emissions trading. 

One likely result could be helping pave the way for the UK to issue EU-recognised pet passports again. 

The latter – through a Representation of the People Bill already making its way through parliament – may help address problems faced by Britons abroad in recent years with postal ballots arriving too late to count. However, it falls short of reforms sought by some MPs and campaigners for the rights of Britons overseas.

It also does not address the issue of overseas constituencies for Britons abroad, an idea backed by the UK’s Liberal Democrats and several campaign groups.

Closer EU links

The proposed European Partnership Bill is intended to simplify implementation of future UK-EU agreements and thus reduce trade barriers that have arisen since Brexit.

The government highlights a planned agreement on food, plants and animal products that could simplify movement of these goods between the UK and EU. At present, exports often require costly veterinary and phyto-sanitary certificates.

In practical terms, this could eventually make it easier once again for travellers to take seeds or plants from the UK into the EU, and potentially ease restrictions on certain food products carried back from Britain after trips.

The changes would also benefit businesses on both sides of the Channel which export fresh food and agricultural products.

The agreement could additionally open the door to the UK being added once more to the list of countries authorised to issue EU-recognised pet passports, easing costs and paperwork for pet owners travelling regularly to France and other EU countries. 

The bill aims to build on the first UK-EU summit, held in May 2025, by creating a framework for implementing future agreements between the two sides in UK law.

Postal voting

The Representation of the People Bill notably includes plans to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in UK elections. If passed, this could extend voting rights to many young Britons living in France who have lived in the UK at some point.

The bill also proposes changes said to be aimed at improving postal voting administration, amid concerns that rising demand has put pressure on local election teams and postal services.

Proposals include earlier deadlines for candidate nominations and postal vote applications, as well as “clarifying key processes to returning officers, to reduce risk and improve delivery”.

Campaign group New Europeans UK said it has been seeking to raise awareness of the overseas constituencies issue in the context of the bill, while also pushing for improvements to the current system. Several European countries, including France, have dedicated MPs for their citizens abroad, but Britons abroad are attached to the last constituency where they lived.

The bill as it stands represents a “start” to this, according to founder Roger Casale.

“It is disappointing, but not surprising that greater progress has not been made,” he said.

“Disappointing because UK citizens abroad need and deserve a voice in parliament. Unsurprising because we know from the 15-year rule campaign that progress on these issues is slow, precisely because UK citizens abroad do not have such a voice now.”

It is often not possible for their postal votes to be returned in time to be counted, he added.

The group is urging MPs to support amendment NC19 by Liberal Democrat MP Freddie van Mierlo, and related amendment 3, which call for measures including downloadable ballots and internet or telephone voting.

Digital access to services

Another proposal, the Digital Access to Services Bill, would introduce a new free digital ID system linked to expanded use of the gov.uk app, described as becoming the ‘front door’ for accessing public services.

This could eventually affect how Britons abroad access UK administrative services online.

English ‘taxe de séjour’

Among the other proposals is an English version of France’s taxe de séjour – a small ‘Overnight Visitor Levy’ that local authorities could add to tourist accommodation bills.

According to background documents published alongside the speech, Scotland and Wales already have similar systems, and the proposal aims to bring England into line with them and with “international peers”.