Thousands of EU nationals living across North Somerset have not been offered permanent residency in the UK, official figures have revealed.  The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of leaving local families from the EU in “legal limbo” and throwing people’s lives into uncertainty.

Of the 3,670 EU nationals across North Somerset who have applied for permanent residency, only 1,970have been offered settled status.1,090 have been granted pre-settled status, which only gives the temporary right to stay in the UK.

Another 600 EU nationals living in North Somerset have applied for permanent residency but are still waiting for a final decision to be made.

490 of the applications for settled status in North Somerset were for children, i.e. those under 18.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Weston-super-Mare, Patrick Keating commented:

“Too many EU nationals in Weston and the surrounding villagesare deeply anxious about their right to stay. Many of them fill vital roles in our health service, schools, local businesses and farms. It’s disgraceful for the Conservative government to leave them in legal limbo like this.

“Families and children must not be made to live under a cloud of uncertainty any longer.

“The Liberal Democrats will stop Brexit, protect the rights of EU citizens and build a brighter future for our country.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The latest figures on the EU settlement scheme including by local authority are available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-september-2019

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