Most British residents in Spain don’t get a vote on Sunday November 29, yet the result could still reach their healthcare, rent and tax bills. With polls pointing to a possible PP and Vox majority, here’s what’s been said, what’s only speculation and what Madrid can’t change alone.

Healthcare comments target people without legal residence 

Healthcare is where the parties have said the most so far. Vox wants to remove the legal right to public healthcare for foreigners without legal residence. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo said ‘irregular status cannot give rise to rights’, while PP MP Antonio Román said healthcare belongs to ‘those who abide by the law, pay their taxes and have legal residence’. Román added that emergency care would still be on the table.

However, those comments concern people without legal residence, and the report doesn’t say legal residents would be affected. 

The two parties aren’t identical on this though, as the PP voted against a Vox motion in April that would have tied migrants’ healthcare access to years of social security contributions. In regional deals in Extremadura and Aragón, PP and Vox agreed to review the cost of healthcare for foreign nationals, and not to exclude them. Vox has also made ‘national priority’ one of its three campaign themes, although its Estepona rally on Monday October 12 didn’t spell out what that would mean in practice. 

Rent caps and evictions could be rewritten

The snap election was called after PP and Vox voted down the government’s emergency housing measures. Now analysts expect a right-wing government to repeal parts of the Housing Law (Ley de Vivienda), which would remove rent caps, and say both parties have promised tougher and faster evictions.

That could cut both ways, with British landlords likely to gain and British tenants facing higher rents. These are the analysts’ predictions though, and not confirmed policy. 

Tax cuts are possible, but nothing is confirmed 

The same analysts say the PP has historically favoured cutting or scrapping the wealth tax and the temporary solidarity tax on large fortunes. Several PP-run regions have already cut inheritance and gift taxes, and a national government could go further. 

Again, that’s an expectation and not a pledge. 

Residency paperwork is partly out of Madrid’s hands 

The analysts suggest a new government reshuffling ministries or immigration rules could cause delays for residency renewals and Non-Lucrative Visas. The Golden Visa, which the current government plans to scrap, could also be reversed. 

However, the 90/180-day rule (the limit on visitor stays) is EU law, so no Spanish government can change it alone.

The polls point in different directions 

PolitPro’s election trend, updated on Monday October 19, puts the PP in front. Two polls published on Friday October 9 suggested the PP and Vox together would win about 198 seats (El País) and 200 seats (El Confidencial), above the 176 needed for a majority.

However, the state-run Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) poll on Wednesday October 14 had the PSOE (Pedro Sanchez’s party) on 34 per cent against 22.2 per cent for the PP, a lead of nearly 12 points. Meanwhile one SocioMétrica simulation for El Español gives Sánchez just a 0.1 per cent chance of stopping a right-wing absolute majority, with the PP 25 seats ahead of the PSOE.

Any coalition deal after the vote will show which of these ideas survive, and that’s when British residents will find out what, if anything, changes for them.

The Region of Murcia Food Bank is preparing a new wave of food collections in the municipality of Cartagena and across the region this autumn, calling on residents to volunteer their time and help support people struggling to afford everyday essentials.

Food bank calls for volunteers across the region this autumn

The initiative, called the ‘autumn of solidarity’, comes ahead of Spain’s annual Gran Recogida de Alimentos, one of the country’s largest charitable food collection campaigns. This year, the nationwide drive will take place from November 13 to 15, with food banks across Spain seeking around 80,000 volunteers to help make the collections possible.

How residents can support the national food collection

Volunteers will play a crucial role during these food collection campaigns, helping at participating supermarkets, explaining how shoppers can contribute and receiving donated products. Even a few hours of support can help ensure that more donations reach the people who need them. No previous experience is required to take part in the national campaign, making it an accessible way for newcomers and long-term residents alike to get involved in their local community.

The Region of Murcia Food Bank also relies on volunteers throughout the year. Its work involves receiving, sorting, storing and distributing donated food to organisations supporting vulnerable people. Volunteers can contribute through practical tasks, specialist skills or support for individual campaigns.

Cartagena community efforts deliver thousands of kilogrammes of food

Food banks help charities and community organisations provide essential supplies to households facing financial difficulties. Cartagena has already demonstrated the impact of collective action. A food collection organised by the municipality’s Youth Department in February raised 5,910 kilogrammes of food, with contributions from youth associations and other local groups. The donations went towards vulnerable families and organisations.

Expats encouraged to support local families this autumn

For locals, expatriates, and visitors to the Costa Calida, the campaign offers an opportunity to support the community they call home. Whether by volunteering during a supermarket collection or contributing food, every effort can help local organisations continue their work.

Residents interested in volunteering can find further information through the Region of Murcia Food Bank’s official website, as well as the national food bank federation’s Gran Recogida de Alimentos campaign.

An investment website that appears to belong to a trusted financial company could be an imitation. Spain’s financial regulator has issued a fresh warning about websites using the names of legitimate firms, including MyInvestor and XTB, alongside other unauthorised investment platforms.

On Monday, October 19, the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) published five warnings concerning investment websites and entities operating without the required authorisation. Some were identified as clones of registered financial businesses, while others were flagged for offering regulated services without authorisation.

The warnings are particularly relevant to anyone considering opening an online investment account, especially when a website looks professional or uses the name of a recognised financial institution.

Spain’s CNMV identifies websites impersonating MyInvestor and XTB

Among the websites identified in the latest warnings are several using variations of the MyInvestor name.

The CNMV has specifically flagged the following addresses:

• ‘panel.myinvestor-ltd.com’
• ‘live.myinvestor-ltd.co’
• ‘app.myinvestor-limited.com’
• ‘app.tairales-ltd.org/profile-info’

According to the regulator, these websites have no affiliation with MyInvestor Banco, S.A., a financial institution properly licensed in Spain to offer investment services.

The legitimate company’s website is ‘myinvestor.es’.

The CNMV also warned about the website xtbespana.com, identifying it as a clone unrelated to XTB S.A., Sucursal en España, a financial services firm duly registered in Spain.

The distinction is important because a website does not need to be particularly suspicious to be a red flag. A web address that combines the name of a well-known company with a word like Espana, limited, or ltd may appear legitimate, especially to a newcomer who does not know the website for that company.

The presence of a well-known name does not mean the website belongs to the company.The regulator’s warnings are clear that the MyInvestor and XTB websites identified are not linked to the legal businesses.

Three other investment entities named in Spain’s latest warning

The update of 19 October by the CNMV lists three other entities that are not authorized to offer regulated services mentioned in its warnings.

Wexford Advisory Ltd, which is linked to the website ‘wexfordadvisory-ltd.com’, is identified as a clone. The regulator says it has no connection with Advisory GPS European Equity, FI, a registered investment fund in Spain.

Two further entities have also been named:

• Diamond Capital, associated with ‘diamondcapitalhf.com’ and ‘diamondcapitalhfm.com’.
• Global Rift, associated with ‘globalrift-ltd.co’ and ‘globalrift-limited.com’.

According to the CNMV, these companies are not registered to provide investment services or other regulated activities mentioned in the warnings.

The notices also describe activities which are only permitted to licensed cryptoasset service providers in accordance with the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, known as MiCA, in the case of Diamond Capital, Global Rift and Wexford Advisory Ltd.

However, investing with an unauthorised investment provider can expose consumers to a high degree of financial risk. The risk may include losing money and the lack of protection that is available with regulated firms.

The recent warnings from the CNMV are also consistent with previous warnings by the CMNV regarding unregistered investment platforms. The CMNV issued four additional firms that were not licensed to offer investment services on October 13.

The update on 19 October therefore adds more names and websites to the regulator’s public warning list.

How to check whether an investment website is genuine in Spain

CNMV advises those who wish to invest online to check the company’s registration before transferring money.

The regulator maintains a public database of warnings about unauthorised entities, allowing consumers to check whether a particular company or website has been flagged.

However, checking whether a company appears on a warning list is only part of the process. A platform that has not yet been flagged is not necessarily authorised.

Investors should also refer to the CNMV’s official registers to ensure that a financial business is authorised to offer the services they advertise. For expatriates considering online trading, understanding the risks of opening a Forex or CFD trading account in Spain is another important precaution.

It is particularly important to check the website address and contact information against those for the legitimate company.

The company’s logo, website, or company name may be impressive, but they are no guarantee of legitimacy. An investor should not assume that a link provided to them in an email, advertisement, or social media post is the official platform. Financial fraud is not limited to investment platforms, with a previous bank scam investigation in Spain revealing the scale of personal data exposure.

Any individual who has already shared financial information or has sent money to a suspicious website should contact their bank or payment provider immediately. Save all communications and consider reporting the matter to the police.

The CNMV also encourages consumers to report offers of investment services from unregistered entities.

For information on whether a company is authorised, investors can call the regulator’s information service on 900 535 015.

The alerts issued on October 19 do not indicate how many people have visited the websites or whether any investors have suffered losses.

The CNMV’s latest warnings underline the importance of checking both a company’s regulatory status and its exact website address before transferring money. Even when an investment platform appears to represent a familiar financial institution, that does not necessarily mean it is genuine.