Expat Britons Lose their Pension Rights

March 18 - South Africa, Canada and Australia are among the countries that were included in a recent European Court of Human Rights ruling, where it was stated that the British government could legally freeze state pensions at the level of when expats leave the country.

The case was brought against the British government by a group of 13 pensioners who live in the three countries mentioned above, after the government refused to increase their pensions in line with current UK state pensions.

After having the case thrown out of court by a 11 to six vote, the director of UK parliamentary affairs for the group known as the International Consortium of British pensioners, John Markham said: "The ruling is completely indefensible and will leave half a million pensioners facing the possibility of destitution. What the British government is doing is utterly immoral, unjust and un-British."

While the ruling deals a blow to expats, many are not willing to accept that this is the end of the battle.

"I don't think we're going to make it to the end of the road," said Markham.

He also said that with the upcoming British election in May, the group would be mobilizing public opinion with the new parliament.

Another group working for the expat community, the British Australian Pensioners Association, expressed their opinion on the issue.

"Now it is up to the people still working or living in Britain to tell their government that they will no longer stand for this injustice. By paying increases in some countries and withholding them in others, the UK government severely limits our freedom of choice regarding where we can retire," said the group's Vice President, James Nelson.