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Gove and Rees-Mogg criticised for inflating settled status figures Gove and Rees-Mogg criticised for inflating settled status figures
(about 1 hour later)
Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg have been criticised for inflating the numbers of EU citizens who have been given settled status under a Home Office scheme, neglecting to distinguish between those given permanent rights and those granted a more precarious, temporary status.Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg have been criticised for inflating the numbers of EU citizens who have been given settled status under a Home Office scheme, neglecting to distinguish between those given permanent rights and those granted a more precarious, temporary status.
Both cabinet members have appeared on television and radio in the past two days declaring that more than 1 million people have been granted settled status, effectively giving them a permanent right to remain in the UK after Brexit. However official Home Office statistics indicate that only 609,000 people have received this status. Both cabinet ministers have appeared on television and radio in the past two days declaring that more than 1 million people have been granted settled status, in effect giving them a permanent right to remain in the UK after Brexit. However, official Home Office statistics indicate that only 609,000 people have received this status.
Another 342,600 people have been granted the inferior pre-settled status, which requires them to reapply for the permanent status once they can prove that they have been permanent residents in the UK for five years. Another 342,600 people have been granted pre-settled status, which requires them to reapply for the permanent status once they can prove that they have been permanent residents in the UK for five years.
More than 600,000 EU citizens apply for UK settled statusMore than 600,000 EU citizens apply for UK settled status
Organisations representing EU nationals said it was worrying that senior ministers should be giving out such inaccurate figures. “Either they are propagandising, trying to reassure people they are treating them well, or they don’t understand how the system works,” Chai Patel, legal policy director of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said. Organisations representing EU nationals said it was worrying that senior ministers should be giving out such inaccurate figures. “Either they are propagandising, trying to reassure people they are treating them well, or they don’t understand how the system works,” Chai Patel, the legal policy director of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said.
Interviewed on the Andrew Marr show, Gove, who heads the Cabinet Office and is in charge of planning for a no-deal Brexit, said that the system was “working well”. “We have had one million people who have received settled status,” he said. He dismissed the concerns of lawyers and charities supporting EU nationals, stating that he regretted that there were “one or two people who are attempting to make political capital out of the situation.” Interviewed on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One, Gove, who heads the Cabinet Office and is in charge of planning for a no-deal Brexit, said the system was “working well”. “We have had 1 million people who have received settled status,” he said. He dismissed the concerns of lawyers and charities supporting EU nationals, stating that he regretted there were “one or two people who are attempting to make political capital out of the situation.”
During a phone-in on LBC radio station on Monday morning , Rees Mogg was asked to comment on a Guardian report that noted that the number of people being allocated pre-settled status had jumped from 32% in the testing phase to 42% in July. He responded: “A million people have got settled status. I think that is a considerable success.” During a phone-in on LBC radio on Monday morning, Rees-Mogg was asked to comment on a Guardian report that noted that the number of people being allocated pre-settled status had jumped from 32% in the testing phase to 42% in July. He responded: “A million people have got settled status. I think that is a considerable success.”
But lawyers and campaign groups stress that there is a significant difference between receiving settled status and pre-settled status, which forces EU nationals to continue to maintain continuous residence, making life more complicated for those who need to work or study abroad. But lawyers and campaign groups stress there is a significant difference between receiving settled status and pre-settled status, which forces EU nationals to continue to maintain continuous residence, making life more complicated for those who need to work or study abroad.
Rise in EU citizens not getting UK settled status causes alarm
While most of those given pre-settled status may have expected to be given this more temporary leave to remain, because they have not yet been in the UK for five years, a rising number of people who have lived here for many years have complained that they have been wrongly allocated the lesser rights.While most of those given pre-settled status may have expected to be given this more temporary leave to remain, because they have not yet been in the UK for five years, a rising number of people who have lived here for many years have complained that they have been wrongly allocated the lesser rights.
“The ministers appear to be saying: ‘We’ve got a brilliant system and 1 million people have been registered, stop talking to us about it.’ Which is a grossly irresponsible thing to say. If people are getting pre-settled status they are at risk of becoming undocumented in five years time,” Patel added. “The ministers appear to be saying: ‘We’ve got a brilliant system and 1 million people have been registered, stop talking to us about it.’ Which is a grossly irresponsible thing to say. If people are getting pre-settled status they are at risk of becoming undocumented in five years’ time,” Patel said.
“The Home Office has still not addressed any of our concerns over how these people are going to be supported or helped or guaranteed their rights.”
Javid defends settled status scheme in response to criticismJavid defends settled status scheme in response to criticism
“The Home Office has still not addressed any of our concerns over how these people are going to be supported or helped or guaranteed their rights.”
Tahmid Chowdhury, co-founder of Here for Good, a charity set up to provide free immigration services to EU citizens in the UK, said: “Senior members of the government are repeatedly misleading the public over the number of individuals granted settled status – either deliberately, which could be malicious, or unintentionally, which could be incompetent.”Tahmid Chowdhury, co-founder of Here for Good, a charity set up to provide free immigration services to EU citizens in the UK, said: “Senior members of the government are repeatedly misleading the public over the number of individuals granted settled status – either deliberately, which could be malicious, or unintentionally, which could be incompetent.”
Failing to distinguish between the two categories was very significant, he added: “Because pre-settled status – which accounts for about a third of application outcomes – offers less protection of citizens’ rights than settled status.” Failing to distinguish between the two categories was very significant, he said, adding: “Because pre-settled status, which accounts for about a third of application outcomes, offers less protection of citizens’ rights than settled status.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Both pre-settled status and settled status allow people to work, study, receive healthcare and access benefits and services as they do now. A Home Office spokesperson said: “Both pre-settled status and settled status allow people to work, study, receive healthcare and access benefits and services as they do now. Nobody has been granted pre-settled status without first being offered the opportunity to submit evidence to show they qualify for settled status and once they have been resident for five years they can apply for settled status.
“Nobody has been granted pre-settled status without first being offered the opportunity to submit evidence to show they qualify for settled status and once they have been resident for five years they can apply for settled status. “EU citizens are our friends and neighbours and we want them to stay and they have until at least 31 December, 2020 to apply to the EU settlement scheme.”
“EU citizens are our friends and neighbours and we want them to stay and they have until at least 31 December, 2020 to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.”
BrexitBrexit
European UnionEuropean Union
Foreign policyForeign policy
MigrationMigration
Michael Gove
Jacob Rees-Mogg
Conservatives
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