‘Govt treating EU citizens appallingly’ with Settled Status call charges

Responding to reports that thousands of EU citizens are being forced to pay for calls to the Home Office’s Settlement Resolution Centre for help with their Settled Status applications, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Ed Davey said:

EU citizens in the UK are our neighbours and our colleagues, our families and our friends. But ever since the Brexit referendum, they have been treated appallingly by this Conservative Government.

Making them pay up to 40p per minute to get help navigating the complex Home Office system for applying for Settled Status is just the latest shameful example.

This shows that, despite the shocking revelations of the Windrush Scandal, the Home Office’s hostile culture hasn’t changed a bit – and that means we are heading for another scandal when thousands of EU citizens lose their rights after Brexit.

The only way to stop that happening is to stop Brexit. That’s why the Liberal Democrats are demanding a People’s Vote with the option to remain in the EU.

Davey: Tory policies “playing into the hands of slavers”

Responding to new statistics on victims of trafficking and modern slavery, published by the National Crime Agency today [Weds 20th March], Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Ed Davey said:

The appalling scale of slavery in 21st century Britain shames our country.

These figures are shocking, but even worse are the thousands more victims who remain hidden – because they are unable or unwilling to come forward, and because the authorities do not have the resources they need to proactively go after trafficking and exploitation.

Theresa May once rightly called modern slavery ‘the great human rights issue of our time’, yet her hostile environment makes it harder for victims to come forward. Her refusal to fund enforcement properly is playing into the hands of slavers.

Liberal Democrats demand better for the victims of modern slavery. We will end the hostile environment and give the police, the Border Force and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority the resources they need to stop traffickers, free victims and bring those who exploit them to justice.

Joint statement from Vince Cable, Liz Saville Roberts, Ian Blackford and Caroline Lucas

Today the leaders of the opposition parties met with Jeremy Corbyn to urge him and his party to join them in bringing about a People’s Vote. Commenting on the meeting Vince Cable, Liz Saville Roberts, Ian Blackford and Caroline Lucas said:

We welcome that today we have sat down with Jeremy Corbyn for the first time. In the meeting our message was clear, Labour must move to back a public vote, which includes the option to remain, before the window of opportunity closes.

There is no such thing as a good Brexit – whether it is a Labour or Conservative version of it – jobs, public services and the environment will suffer. Remaining in the EU is the best deal on offer and, with time running out, Labour must now deliver on their promises so that we can avoid a catastrophic Brexit.

We hope that we can now work collaboratively and move swiftly to ensure the best possible chance for a fresh referendum to take place.