27 July 2016

House of Commons: Absence of certainty on Brexit migration issues, says Committee

Implications of EU exit

The Home Affairs Committee says the immigration directorates especially UKVI must be prepared and resourced to deal with the heavy extra demands that will be placed on them by the fallout from Brexit. Post-Brexit attempts to limit non-EU migration, and the uncertainly over migration within Europe during the exit negotiations, could both lead to a surge in immigration.

The Committee says EU citizens resident in the UK and Brits living and working in Europe must not be used as "bargaining chips" in the Brexit negotiations, and Government must move quickly to establish certainty over their status and the new rules on free movement – if they change significantly. EU citizens living and working in the UK, and UK citizens living in the EU, need certainty on where they stand in relation to the UK leaving the EU. The report offers the government three possible cut off dates. [...]

Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, Chair of the Committee, said:

"The biggest issue relating to Brexit is migration. There is a clear lack of certainty in the government’s approach to the position of EU migrants resident in the UK and British citizens living in the EU. Neither should be used as pawns in a complicated chess game which has not even begun. We have offered three suggested cut off dates, and unless the government makes a decision, the prospect of a 'surge' in immigration will increase. Multiple voices and opinions from government ministers causes uncertainty, and must stop.

Full report

© House of Commons