- New figures show 2.7 million EU citizens without Settled Status
- Swinson: Millions in Britain value our place in the EU
New figures show 2.7 million EU citizens without Settled Status
The Liberal Democrats have warned that the Government is failing to guarantee the rights of all 3.6 million EU citizens in the UK, as new official figures show that fewer than 1 million people had been given Settled Status by the end of September.
The latest EU Settlement Scheme Statistics, published today by the Home Office, show that 929,600 people had been granted Settled Status by the end of September 2019 – meaning 2.7 million EU citizens do not have Settled Status. 586,700 applicants have been given Pre-Settled Status, which only gives them Limited Leave to Remain in the UK for five years.
The Liberal Democrats also raised concerns over the number of applicants receiving neither Settled or Pre-Settled Status. Today’s figures show 335,700 people are still waiting for a decision, with 1,860,200 applications received but only 1,524,500 concluded. They also show 8,000 “other outcomes” (applications that were withdrawn, deemed invalid, or where the applicant was deemed ineligible) in the first six months of the scheme.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Christine Jardine said:
Boris Johnson has broken the promise he made to the 3.6 million EU citizens in the UK. He said their rights would be automatically guaranteed in law, but today’s figures show that the process is anything but automatic.
If the Conservatives carry on with their Brexit plans, thousands of EU citizens will miss out on Settled Status and be left vulnerable to the Tories’ Hostile Environment. Brexit will create an even bigger Windrush-style scandal.
Hundreds of thousands are being given second-class ‘Pre-Settled Status’, which means they will face a new cliff-edge in five years. That’s another disaster waiting to happen.
The Liberal Democrats demand better for EU citizens in the UK and British citizens in the EU. We will stop this awful chaos and uncertainty by stopping Brexit, and guarantee your rights to live, work and study where you choose by saving free movement.
Swinson: Millions in Britain value our place in the EU
Following her visit to Brussels today, where she and Lib Dem Shadow Brexit Secretary Tom Brake met with Michel Barnier, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson said:
I was pleased to meet Michel Barnier today. It is his job to negotiate a deal, but I am clear that the best deal we have is as a member of the European Union, and that is what Liberal Democrats will keep fighting for.
I made clear to him, and the other EU representatives that I have met today, that there are millions of people in the UK who value our place in Europe and want to Remain.
I believe Boris Johnson is not serious about negotiating. He is determined to deliver a chaotic no-deal, which would be bad for our economy, our NHS and our security.
Liberal Democrats are the strongest Remain party, and we will continue to argue for a People’s Vote so that we can remain as members of the European Union.
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3 Comments
Talking about press releases there’s more going on in the world than just one trick EU Brexit, yet we hear little about anything else on LDV. For example in the old Liberal Party days we enthused about improving and investing in education.
I’ve just looked up the party’s 2017 election manifesto education section which says, amongst other things :
“Give democratically elected local authorities clear responsibility for admissions, places planning and SEND, and repeal the rule that all new state-funded schools must be free schools or academies”.
This seems to me to be a sitting on the fence stance, whilst the Labour Party today announced if they form a government they will return all Academy Schools and Free Schools to local authority control.
Given its general commitment to democratioc control and accountability, does the Liberal Democrat Party agree ? A statement from Ms Moran would be appreciated.
Where has the LD publicity department or whatever they call themselves gone this week? We seem to have disappeared from the ether. ????
@David Raw – “Talking about press releases there’s more going on in the world than just one trick EU Brexit…”
I note the absence of LibDem comment on the Kurds. The LibDems should be pushing Boris to get the EU to protect the Kurds – potentially putting UK and EU member nation troops on the ground – I’m sure Russia would co-operate, even push for the establishment of Kurdistan.