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EU citizens living in the UK 'left in limbo' after Brexit, says former co-chair of Vote Leave Gisela Stuart | EU citizens living in the UK 'left in limbo' after Brexit, says former co-chair of Vote Leave Gisela Stuart |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A leading Brexit campaigner has called on the Government to guarantee by Christmas the rights of EU citizens living in the UK. | |
Gisela Stuart MP said politicians had to be “humane”, as she helped found a new think tank to explore how best to protect the rights of 3.5 million EU nationals in the UK. | |
Speaking to the BBC, the Labour MP said the research project aimed to help the Government form plans to achieve the goal. | |
Asked if she wanted ministers to guarantee rights by Christmas, she said: “Yes.” | |
Ms Stuart added: “One of the duties of politicians is also to be humane. | |
“When we deal with people’s lives, I think, to show that we are open, that we are a welcoming country, that we simply decided to leave an institution called the European Union, that doesn’t mean that we are ignoring people’s rights.” | |
EU citizens living in the UK have been “left in limbo” since the referendum, according to one of the senior figures for the Leave campaign during the EU referendum. | EU citizens living in the UK have been “left in limbo” since the referendum, according to one of the senior figures for the Leave campaign during the EU referendum. |
Gisela Stuart is to head up a cross-party inquiry for the think tank British Future on how to protect the rights of EU citizens living in the UK. | Gisela Stuart is to head up a cross-party inquiry for the think tank British Future on how to protect the rights of EU citizens living in the UK. |
Ms Stuart said the Government should make it clear that EU citizens will be allowed to stay and that it was the “right thing to do”. | Ms Stuart said the Government should make it clear that EU citizens will be allowed to stay and that it was the “right thing to do”. |
Speaking to The Independent, Ms Stuart said: “We are dealing with people’s lives. It is important we get it right. | Speaking to The Independent, Ms Stuart said: “We are dealing with people’s lives. It is important we get it right. |
“There is a tremendous political will to get the right outcome on this and be helpful to the government. I hope this will be a priority for the Government.” | “There is a tremendous political will to get the right outcome on this and be helpful to the government. I hope this will be a priority for the Government.” |
The Labour MP also added she believes that EU citizens are welcome in the UK. | The Labour MP also added she believes that EU citizens are welcome in the UK. |
"There is wide agreement, among the public, politicians and business, that EU citizens are welcome here," she told the BBC. | "There is wide agreement, among the public, politicians and business, that EU citizens are welcome here," she told the BBC. |
The former co-chair of the Vote Leave campaign said she was "confident" the government would guarantee EU nationals status and that it was what the campaign had promised all along, | The former co-chair of the Vote Leave campaign said she was "confident" the government would guarantee EU nationals status and that it was what the campaign had promised all along, |
The inquiry is set to publish its findings in the autumn and will also look at EU citizens’ welfare and healthcare rights in the UK. | The inquiry is set to publish its findings in the autumn and will also look at EU citizens’ welfare and healthcare rights in the UK. |
Steve Ballinger, director of communications for British Future spoke to The Independent about the inquiry: "EU migrants need reassurance about their future in the UK. Making clear that they are welcome here would send a message about the kind of country Britain wants to be after Brexit. | Steve Ballinger, director of communications for British Future spoke to The Independent about the inquiry: "EU migrants need reassurance about their future in the UK. Making clear that they are welcome here would send a message about the kind of country Britain wants to be after Brexit. |
"Sorting out the status of 3.5 million people will, however, throw up a raft of questions - about rights, residency, cut-off dates and access to services, for instance. | "Sorting out the status of 3.5 million people will, however, throw up a raft of questions - about rights, residency, cut-off dates and access to services, for instance. |
"What this new inquiry seeks to do is consult interested parties and those with expertise to help find practical solutions and make recommendations to the Government." | "What this new inquiry seeks to do is consult interested parties and those with expertise to help find practical solutions and make recommendations to the Government." |
So far the Government has indicated a desire to protect EU citizens’ living in the UK if Britons living in Europe are treated similarly. | So far the Government has indicated a desire to protect EU citizens’ living in the UK if Britons living in Europe are treated similarly. |