Boris Johnson led Government's latest plans to end freedom of movement for EU citizens immediately after a no-deal Brexit have caused anxiety and confusion among European nationals in the UK, with concerns that they can be caught up in hostile environment policies.
Downing Street confirmed rules allowing EU nationals to live and work freely in the UK would end abruptly if the UK leaves the bloc without an agreement at the end of October. In theory, the rights of EU citizens who have permanent residence in the UK should not be affected and they will continue to be allowed to apply for settled status – granted once they have lived in the UK for five years – until the end of December 2020.
The3million, which represents EU nationals in the UK, said plans by the home secretary, Priti Patel, to impose new border restrictions overnight on 31 October if Britain leaves the EU without a deal were “reckless”.
In the meantime, in a letter to home secretary Priti Patel, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said he was “very concerned” about plans to end free movement on day one of a no-deal Brexit.
“I urge you strongly to reconsider...I fear that such a reckless change to our immigration system would have far deeper consequences too.
“Three million EU citizens living in the UK right now – one million of whom are Londoners – make an enormous contribution to our economic, cultural and civic life.
“By putting the rights and freedoms of EU citizens in the UK at risk in such a careless and brutal fashion, these plans would be a fundamental affront to British values of tolerance and respect.”
Khan also added that these plans "risk providing encouragement and cover for perpetrators of hate crime and discrimination in the UK who may be heartened by the government discriminating against people on the basis of their nationality.”
