The British government is under pressure to protect the rights of UK-based EU citizens post-Brexit. A report from the House of Lords EU justice subcommittee warns that the government’s failure to guarantee these rights could lead to a “constitutional crisis”. The report emphasises the need for a separate system to process the 3 million EU citizens living in the UK, as the current Home Office system is overloaded and under-resourced. The report also highlights the potential for a “cliff edge” of legal rights for EU citizens living in the UK, if the government does not act swiftly.
The British government has pledged to protect the rights of EU citizens post-Brexit, but has not yet provided concrete details. The Lords report criticises the government for not providing sufficient reassurances and calls for a unilateral guarantee of EU citizens’ rights. The report also raises concerns about the potential for discrimination against EU citizens, due to the complexity of the UK’s immigration rules.
The Lords report comes amidst ongoing uncertainty about the UK’s post-Brexit immigration policy. It calls for clarity and urges the government to prioritise the rights of EU citizens in the UK in Brexit negotiations. The report also suggests that the government should consider offering EU citizens “associate citizenship”, a status that would allow them to continue living and working in the UK.
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