Further detail needed on criteria for EU nationals seeking settled status, says Prospect

The government outlines “easy and simple” process for EU Nationals living in the UK seeking to stay after Brexit

Responding to the government’s statement on the rights of EU Nationals after Brexit, Prospect senior deputy general secretary, Sue Ferns said:

“The government’s proposals to ensure that the process for EU Nationals to stay in the UK will be “as easy and simple as possible”, is the right approach but there are still serious challenges ahead.

“Further detail is needed on the criteria that have been outlined to grant EU nationals settled status. Ministers have tried to give reassurances that there will be flexibility in the process to accommodate different situations, but there is still a risk of a blanket approach being applied.

“The autumn deadline must be met and that means allocating the right resources. Otherwise there is a risk of the process becoming even more complicated and creating further uncertainty.

“The UK must remain an attractive place for workers, particularly science, engineering, maths and technology professionals, as there is already a shortage of those skills. Prospect’s EU National members have already endured a large degree of uncertainty and the way Brexit has been handled has caused many people to consider leaving the UK.”

Read Prospect’s survey of EU Nationals on their future in the UK after Brexit here.