EU Referendum: no chance for many to say yay or nay

IT looks like the upcoming EU referendum bill, due to be announced in the Queen’s speech on Wednesday, is already facing controversy, as the electorate will not include the majority of EU citizens living in the UK nor many British citizens living abroad in the EU.
Those eligible to vote will be the same as in general elections, which is British citizens living in the UK over the age of 18 plus Irish and Commonwealth citizens residing in the UK, and British citizens living abroad for fewer than 15 years.
No 10 has declared that most citizens of other EU countries residing in the UK will not be eligible to vote. Currently Irish citizens, residents from two other EU nations, Malta and Cyprus, as well as those from the Commonwealth are entitled to vote.
It is estimated that approximately 45.3 million voters will participate in this referendum, in which the UK will decide whether or not to remain part of the EU.
A Number 10 source said: “No Brit under the age of 58 has had their say on the UK’s membership of the European Union.
“It is time to put this right and to give people the choice – in or out.”