Nurses among EU workers lobbying MPs over right to remain in UK

Nurses, social workers and teaching assistants were among European Union (EU) workers lobbying MPs over their right to remain in the UK.

Campaigners are pressing the prime minister to end the uncertainty facing the three million EU citizens living in the UK who were born elsewhere in Europe, by ensuring they will have the right to remain.

The campaign has been organised by civil rights groups the3million and the New Europeans, together with Unison.

The lobby took place at the Houses of Parliament on Monday afternoon. It was one of several events taking place across the country as part of One Day Without Us, a national day of action to highlight the economic, cultural and social contribution of migrants to UK society.

Fairness and dignity 

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: ‘These millions of workers help keep the UK’s public services and economy going, but they’re being used as pawns by the government.

‘We want Theresa May to end their uncertainty by making it clear now they have the right to stay.’

The3million chief executive Nicolas Hatton said: ‘EU citizens who came to the UK in good faith have lived through stress and anxiety since the referendum. The government has refused to grant them their rights of residence following Brexit.

‘These are people, not bargaining chips, and they’ll be using this lobby to tell their MPs they deserve to be treated with fairness and dignity.’

In other news

• ‘Nurses should resist passport checks for overseas patients’
• Nurse steps into ring for charity boxing match