THE SNP has criticised the “chaos and contradiction at the heart of Downing Street” amid ongoing uncertainties concerning the future of EU nationals in the UK.
It emerged yesterday the Prime Minister was set to announce an end to freedom of movement before the UK leaves the bloc, when Article 50 is triggered next month.
Claims that the move was on the cards were supported by remarks from Iain Duncan Smith. However, Downing Street later issued a rebuttal to the report.
Stephen Gethins, the SNP’s Europe spokesman, said ending freedom of movement would not only hit EU nationals who will lose their rights to reside and work in the UK, but that the UK “will feel the brunt” of the move as UK citizens hoping to work and travel on the continent would be affected.
The reports follow a claim by Scottish Secretary David Mundell last week that the UK Government will not devolve immigration powers to Scotland.
“This is a very worrying time for many EU nationals and the chaos and confusion at the heart of Downing Street is just not acceptable,” said Gethins.
“To end freedom of movement, before the UK has even left the EU, would also be one of the biggest acts of self-sabotage by this Tory Government and potentially illegal.
“The UK benefits from freedom of movement. Millions of UK citizens take advantage and our society is better off economically and culturally from EU nationals choosing to live and work here.
“It is the UK economy as well as society that will feel the brunt of ending free movement. It will be our world-leading universities missing out on talent and our research facilities that will begin to fall behind as the UK Government shuts the door.”
Since the EU referendum last June, May has refused to guarantee the rights of EU nationals living and working in the UK and during the EU debate in the Commons on triggering Article 50, her government blocked an amendment to guarantee the rights of EU nationals in the UK.
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