Immigration Minister admits Britain WILL have to keep freedom of movement after a No Deal Brexit
Caroline Nokes signalled the Home Office would be unable to differentiate between EU nationals already here and those arriving after the split
BRITAIN will have to keep EU free movement after a No Deal Brexit – the Immigration Minister admitted yesterday in a humiliating U-turn.
Caroline Nokes signalled the Home Office would have no way of being able to differentiate between those EU nationals already here and those arriving for the first time after ‘Brexit Day’.
She added employers would NOT have to carry out checks on EU nationals in the event of a No Deal to see if they had a right to work in the UK.
In a car crash Commons appearance last week she said they would have to.
Speaking yesterday, Ms Nokes said: “We will not be asking employers to differentiate, even if there is no deal.”
Challenged that she was saying free movement – allowing unlimited EU immigration - would essentially remain in place, she said: “We are seeking a sensible transition period which will enable the Home Office to make sure these cases can be case-worked clearly.”
Only 1,000 out of an estimated 3.5 million EU nationals have so far registered for ‘settled status’ or the right to remain in Brexit Britain.
The Government’s intention was for the vast majority to do so during a two year post-Brexit transition period.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid last week said free movement may have to remain in place in the event of No Deal as he sought to clear up Ms Nokes’ testimony to the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC).
Yesterday, furious MPs said Ms Nokes latest comments failed to clarify Government policy. Labour’s Yvette Cooper – HASC chair – said Ministers’ “obfuscation was unacceptable”.
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She stormed: “The Home Office has admitted that EU citizens will only have to provide their passport in order to work, that employers will not have to do additional checks, and that they won’t be able to differentiate between existing residents and newly arriving EU citizens.
“The implications of the Home Office position are that in the event of No Deal, current free movement arrangements and checks will continue after March 2019 and at least until the EU settlement scheme is in place in June 2021.
“The clock is ticking. We need urgent clarity.”
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