Around 700,000 British expats in Europe will be unable to vote in the EU referendum after the High Court ruled against them.

They are barred from the Brexit vote as they fall under the ’15-year rule’ which prohibits those who left the country before 2001 from participating.

Harry Shindler, a 94-year-old war veteran who has lived in Italy since 1982 launched the case, together with Jacquelyn MacLennan, a British lawyer living in Belgium since 1987.

Mr Shindler said after the ruling: “I am disappointed and saddened that there are still people in democratic Britain fighting for the right to vote.”

Aidan O’Neill QC who represented Mr Shindler and Ms MacLennan, argued that their rights under EU law are being breached.

Britain’s membership of the EU means they can live and work in Europe, own property, retire there, and receive health care free at the point of use, paid for by the NHS.

“Coming out of the European Union will throw all that into doubt,” said Mr O’Neill. “If there’s a No vote then you become, if you are lucky, a resident alien.”