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No Europeans need apply: evidence mounts of discrimination in UK Europeans need not apply: evidence mounts of discrimination in UK
(about 4 hours later)
Growing evidence that EU nationals in the UK are being blocked from renting or buying properties, getting jobs and booking holidays is to be investigated by the government equalities office. The government equalities office is to investigate growing evidence that EU nationals in the UK are being blocked from renting or buying properties, getting jobs and booking holidays.
Nick Gibb, the equalities minister, has told MPs that the government equalities office “is aware of, and is looking into” reports of increasing discrimination against EU nationals looking for work or buying goods and services. The equalities minister, Nick Gibb, has told MPs that the office “is aware of, and is looking into” reports of increasing discrimination against EU nationals looking for work or buying goods and services.
The official action follows the submission by the Labour shadow Brexit minister Paul Blomfield of a dossier of more than two dozen examples of job advertisements, housing and other opportunities, many of which restrict applicants to UK or Irish citizenship only. The official action follows the submission by Labour’s Paul Blomfield, a shadow Brexit minister, of a dossier of more than two dozen examples of job advertisements, housing and other opportunities, many of which invite applications only from those with UK or Irish citizenship.
The dossier, compiled by the 3 million campaign group, representing non-British EU citizens living in Britain, included examples of discrimination in housing, employment and other services.The dossier, compiled by the 3 million campaign group, representing non-British EU citizens living in Britain, included examples of discrimination in housing, employment and other services.
Examples include:Examples include:
•Rental properties advertised for UK citizens only or outlining different terms for EU nationals. • Rental properties advertised for UK citizens only or outlining different terms for EU nationals.
• One advert for a graduate sales executive in Bristol specifies German language skills but restricts the job to full UK passport holders. • An advert for a graduate sales executive in Bristol specifying German language skills but restricting the job to full UK passport holders.
•A job recovering hire cars from France and Spain and delivering them back to Britain is restricted to UK passport holders only. • A job recovering hire cars from France and Spain and delivering them back to Britain restricted to UK passport holders only.
•An advert for a Solihull-based research job with an international management consultancy specifies that the “candidate must have the right to stay and work permanently in the UK, and a valid UK passport”. • An advert for a Solihull-based research job with an international management consultancy specifying that the “candidate must have the right to stay and work permanently in the UK, and a valid UK passport”.
•Travel agencies declining to take bookings from non-British or non-Irish citizens and cancelling the holidays already booked by EU nationals from other countries. • Travel agencies declining to take bookings from non-British or non-Irish citizens and cancelling the holidays already booked by EU nationals from other countries.
•A law firm advising that employment contracts incorporate clauses that specify that the loss of right to work will result in immediate dismissal. • A law firm advising that employment contracts incorporate clauses that specify that the loss of right to work will result in immediate dismissal.
Blomfield forwarded the examples to ministers saying he was deeply concerned that EU nationals were experiencing discrimination within the service industry and within the labour market. Blomfield forwarded the examples to ministers, saying he was deeply concerned that EU nationals were experiencing discrimination within the service industry and within the labour market.
“I am sure that you would agree these reports are a cause for alarm, reflecting uncertainty across the business sector and discrimination experienced by EU nationals. The lack of detail forthcoming from the government is contributing to this climate of uncertainty and confusion.” “I am sure that you would agree these reports are a cause for alarm, reflecting uncertainty across the business sector and discrimination experienced by EU nationals. The lack of detail forthcoming from the government is contributing to this climate of uncertainty and confusion,” he said.
His response was followed by a Commons written answer by Gibb, slipped out on Saturday, saying that Britain had some of the strongest anti-discrimination laws in the world and pledging to ensure that these rights were protected. A Commons written answer by Gibb, slipped out on Saturday, responded by saying that Britain had some of the strongest anti-discrimination laws in the world and pledging to ensure that these rights were protected.
“The government equalities office is aware of, and is looking into, the reports of discrimination against non-UK EU nationals seeking employment which [have been] forwarded to the secretary of state for exiting the EU. The GEO sponsors the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which has powers to enforce the Equality Act 2010 in cases where it suspects unlawful discrimination in employment may have occurred.” “The government equalities office is aware of, and is looking into, the reports of discrimination against non-UK EU nationals seeking employment which [have been] forwarded to the secretary of state for exiting the EU. The GEO sponsors the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which has powers to enforce the Equality Act 2010 in cases where it suspects unlawful discrimination in employment may have occurred,” it said.
The minister advises that anyone who believes they have faced unlawful discrimination should contact the advisory, conciliation and arbitration service or the equality advisory support service.The minister advises that anyone who believes they have faced unlawful discrimination should contact the advisory, conciliation and arbitration service or the equality advisory support service.
Blomfield responded to the announcement of the inquiry saying: “This investigation into these extremely worrying cases is welcome, but it must lead to action. The government needs to be clear that discrimination will not be tolerated.”Blomfield responded to the announcement of the inquiry saying: “This investigation into these extremely worrying cases is welcome, but it must lead to action. The government needs to be clear that discrimination will not be tolerated.”
The issue is expected to be raised in the Commons on Tuesday when a Westminster Hall debate on the “negotiations on the rights of UK nationals in the EU” is due to take place.The issue is expected to be raised in the Commons on Tuesday when a Westminster Hall debate on the “negotiations on the rights of UK nationals in the EU” is due to take place.