Stay calm and be prepared

Ambassador warns against 'misleading stories'

BRITISH people living in Spain are urged to be prepared for Brexit ahead of the UK leaving the European Union with or without a deal.

Ambassador Simon Manley has offered key advice for expats – to make sure they are registered as residents and to sign up for official government alerts to stay up to date with changes.

The ambassador spoke out and urged people to remain calm, especially when faced with a growing number of 'misleading stories in the free press.

Britain is scheduled to leave the bloc on March 29 but the UK government has yet to get the Withdrawal Agreement through parliament.

Mr Manley said this week that both the UK and Spanish governments were committed to protecting people’s rights.

“I know that people have questions about what Brexit may mean for them. Both the UK and Spanish governments have said they will protect your rights as citizens whether we leave with, or without, a deal,” he said.

“My two bits of advice right now are to make sure you are correctly registered here in Spain and to sign up to alerts from the ‘Living in Guides’ on (website) gov.uk to ensure you receive the most up-to-date official information.”

Contingency

And Mr Manley also recommended that British nationals living in Spain were aware of and read the Spanish government’s official Brexit contingency website, www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/brexit.

“It sets out the measures to which the Spanish government is already committed, including on residency and healthcare,” he added. “The Spanish Brexit contingency website also underlines the importance of being correctly registered, so as to ensure you can exercise your rights.”

The ambassador said Britain and Spain last month signed a treaty to allow expats to continue to vote in local elections and stand as town hall councillors – the first treaty to be signed by the UK with any of the remaining 27 EU member states and underlining the will on both sides to protect rights.

“The Embassy and our network of consulates are working closely with the Spanish authorities, at both central government and regional level, on how to protect citizens’ rights, whether we leave with or without a deal,” said Mr Manley.

“The UK and Spain have already agreed the voting rights treaty, signed last month, our first such treaty with any other EU member state. The signature of that treaty shows that the will is there on both sides to take action to protect rights that matter to UK nationals in Spain.”

Mr Manley said the British Embassy and the consulates throughout Spain would keep UK nationals in Spain updated via the Living in Spain guide and its social media channels.

“So please do sign up for alerts, and join our ‘Brits in Spain’ Facebook community to ensure you are receiving reliable, official advice.”