One of the leading Vote Leave figures Gisela Stuart has said EU citizens in the UK have been “left in limbo” since the referendum result to leave the European Union.
Furthermore, the Labour MP is expected to head a research project on how to protect EU migrant rights after the UK leaves the EU.
It will be a cross-party inquiry for the British Future think tank to examine what kind of legal status’ could be granted to EU citizens in the UK, in time before the process to leave the EU starts by the inevitable triggering of Article 50.
Many Ministers have indicated strongly that they want to protect EU citizens’ status – as long as a reciprocal deal can be negotiated.
It’s reported that multiple MPs from all parties have attacked the government’s stance, saying people “are not bargaining chips”.
Ms Stuart, the former co-chair of the Vote Leave campaign, has stated the government should quickly outline that all EU citizens in the UK – about three million people – will be allowed to stay after Brexit.
She further states that the government should “take the initiative” and emphasize their intentions to protect UK-EU citizens’ rights and that it expected the same treatment for UK nationals abroad.
She also believes Ministers should demonstrate that leaving the EU “doesn’t mean that we’re ignoring people’s rights”.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron believes it’s “pretty shameful” for Ms Stuart to be “claiming to be worried” about the rights of EU citizens.
He said she had been part of a campaign that “whipped up anti-immigrant feeling” and “contributed to an increase of hate crimes against Europeans”.
“It is like the arsonist turning round and saying they are surprised that a fire took hold,” Mr Farron has said.
Lastly, David Davis, the newly named Brexit secretary by new Prime Minister Theresa May, will oversee the negotiations on the UK’s exit from the European Union, and has said that he wants to secure a “generous settlement” for both EU nationals in the UK, and British citizens abroad.
Ministers have said it would be “unwise” to fully “guarantee” EU citizens’ rights without a deal for Britons abroad.
What do you make of the uncertainty behind EU citizens rights living in the UK?
Do the government need to state and maintain transparent and accountable help towards EU migrants living in the UK quickly? Will the government fully help EU migrants living in the UK?
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