Rome - After the Conservatives’ promise to abolish the ‘15 year rule’ on expatriate voting if they win the UK General Election in May, Labour Party leader Ed Miliband has been encouraged to follow suit.

 Under current laws, there is a cap which prevents Britons from voting in UK elections if they have lived in another country for more than 15 years. Harry Shindler, a veteran of the Second World War and the Italy based representative of the Italy Star Association, is one such expatriate and has been campaigning strongly in recent years for the abolition of the ‘15 year rule.’ In a recent letter from Prime Minister, David Cameron, Mr Shindler received confirmation that the Tories want to eradicate this restriction.

 “You can be assured that I recognise that millions of British citizens, like you, live and work across the globe,” said David Cameron in a letter to Mr Shindler. “Many have worked hard, contributed to Britain all their lives, and have close family living in Britain. This is why we have recently pledged that if we win the General Election, we will abolish this rule which prevents millions of British expats from being able to vote.”

 Following on from this success Mr Shindler has now written to Ed Miliband, the leader of the Labour Party, to ask him to match David Cameron’s promise and return the vote to all expatriates, of which a million will be ineligible to vote come May.