EU nurses in UK should be given right to remain, says new report

Nationals from the European Union (EU) living in the UK should be given the right to permanent residence, urges the report of an independent think-tank published this week.

All EU citizens living in the UK at the point it formally triggers its exits from the EU should be given the right to permanent settlement, the report says.

Clearer commitment

The recommendation is made by British Future, which calls on the government to make a public and clear commitment to EU nationals in the UK.

There are currently around 2.8 million EU citizens living and working in the UK, including 26,000 nurses.

Labour MP Gisela Stuart, chair of British Future, held an inquiry into the status of European Economic Area nationals in the UK. 

Ms Stuart said: ‘Our inquiry found people from different sides of the referendum and politics can quite easily agree on practical, straightforward ways to ensure EU nationals can stay in Britain with their rights protected. That’s the right thing to do and something most voters agree with too.’

Cut-off date

The inquiry says the triggering of Article 50, signalling the formal start of the UK’s exit from the EU, should be the cut-off date for entitlement to permanent settlement.

It also suggests a streamlined UK residency process, using local authorities’ nationality checking services, for the two-thirds of EU nationals who have been here for five years.

Other applications would be dealt with by a dedicated Home Office team, the inquiry suggests.

The Cavendish Coalition, a group of health and social care organisations including the Royal College of Nursing, was consulted by the inquiry.

Commenting on the recommendations, Cavendish Coalition chair, Danny Mortimer, said: ‘Quickly confirming the right to remain for EU nationals currently working in social care and health across the UK removes the uncertainty and anxiety for individuals and their families and mitigates the risk of staff leaving.’

He added: ‘We urge the government to take these fair and reasonable proposals very seriously.’

Read the published British Future report

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