Gavin highlights the uncertainty to EU Nationals after Brexit vote
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has raised the uncertainty caused to EU nationals in the wake of the result of the referendum on UK’s membership of the European Union.
Gavin spoke during a debate on EU Nationals in the UK and pointed out that it would not take much for the UK Government to reassure EU citizens living in the UK that their rights won’t change even after the UK leaves the EU.
There are around 173,000 EU nationals living in Scotland, and approximately 900 living in Paisley and Renfrewshire North. Following the vote to leave the EU, many of them have been left feeling uncertain about the future. The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon has spoken out to reassure European citizens living in Scotland that they are welcome and valued in our communities, but the referendum result has also led to a rise in hate crime across the UK.
Gavin has also written to all the EU citizens in Paisley and Renfrewshire North following the result of the referendum reassuring that EU citizens’ rights to live and work in the UK have not changed, and that Renfrewshire values the contribution that they have made to the community.
He said: “It would be very easy for the UK Government to alleviate people’s fear about the future by guaranteeing EU nationals’ right to stay in the UK, but so far the Home Secretary has refused to do that.
“Our EU nationals have provided us with the biggest complement that they can give, by choosing Renfrewshire as their home. The contribution that they have made to our communities cannot be overstated.
“I want to reassure every EU citizen living in Renfrewshire that you are still welcomed and that your contribution to our society is valued. I also want to condemn the racial abuse that has increased since the Brexit vote.
