WHAT ABOUT US, BORIS?
Michael Gove ‘tasked’ by PM to resolve issues raised over expats’ rights
A VETERAN British MP has raised concerns that there is no reference to Britons living in Europe in Boris Johnson’s European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill.
During the second reading of the Bill last Tuesday, Sir Roger Gale told the House of Commons:
“I spent the greater part of last night reading the Bill and the explanatory notes. “I found reference to European Union citizens living in the United Kingdom and to Swiss nationals but, scour as I could, I found not one word of comfort for United Kingdom citizens living abroad in Europe.”
He said he had spoken ‘briefly’ to the Prime Minister and was ‘assured that the rights and concerns of UK citizens will be taken into account and that a confirmatory letter to that effect will be with me in the next couple of days’.
Costa Blanca News contacted Sir Roger on Monday and he explained that he just received a letter from Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, ‘who has been tasked by the Prime Minister with resolving the issues that I have raised’.
Mr Gove’s letter – in which he fails to give written guarantees over expats’ rights
CHANCELLOR of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove is set to meet expats’ champion Sir Roger Gale next week to discuss his concerns of the rights of Britons living in Europe.
Sir Roger voiced alarm that there is ‘not one word of comfort for United Kingdom citizens living abroad in Europe’ in Boris Johnson’s European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill, which is currently on hold.
In a letter sent to Sir Roger, dated October 28, Mr Gove noted that the MP for North Thanet has raised ‘important issues about the rights and protections of UK nationals living in the EU, for which you continue to be a strong advocate’.
“I share your concern that we must strive to protect our nationals, particularly elderly pensioners who have chosen to retire in EU Member States,” Mr Gove told Sir Roger.
“The specific issues you raise regarding the uprating of the UK state pension and reciprocal healthcare for UK nationals living in the EU are complex and warrant a detailed discussion.
“I would like to invite you to a meeting next week to discuss these issues in greater detail. I will invite relevant officials from across government so we can seek greater clarity in answer to the points you have raised.
“I know that you asked the Prime Minister for reassurance on these very important issues – I hope that this meeting will afford us a chance to explore your concerns and provide you with the assurance you are looking for.”
Commenting on the letter, Sir Roger told Costa Blanca News: “While this, and the proposal that I should meet with officials under Michael’s chairmanship, is perhaps not the immediate clarification that I would have wished for on your behalf, it is clearly important that we nail down a definitive and fully considered position – whatever that position is – so that everyone knows where they stand.
“I believe that Michael’s letter is sent and his proposal made in good faith; my concern now is that we may be overtaken by a General Election but I can only undertake to try to make your case for you to the best of my ability and to seek to deliver the assurances that Michael clearly understands that you require.”
In the House of Commons last week, Sir Roger had told MPs that he had ‘a particular concern about the plight of United Kingdom citizens living in other parts of the European Union, most particularly in respect of their pension rights, the uprating of their exportable benefits and, of course, their healthcare’.
“Because confusion has been sown by government departments, there has been a considerable degree of distress,” he told the House.
“Over the past few weeks, I have received harrowing emails from citizens across Europe expressing their concern. They are very frightened indeed about what they may face.”
Lords take up the cudgels
His concerns were reflected this week by chair of the House of Lords EU justice subcommittee, Lord Morris of Aberavon.
According to The Guardian, he wrote a letter to Brexit department minister James Duddridge questioning whether the government had offered more to EU citizens resident in the UK than it had done to the 1.3 million UK citizens living in the EU.
Aberavon added that some of the government’s actions may be ‘actively counter-productive’ in terms of ensuring the security of healthcare, welfare benefits and pension entitlements of its own citizens abroad.
He urged the government to engage urgently with the EU to protect the rights of UK citizens in the EU after Brexit.
The House of Lords EU justice subcommittee is demanding that the government agree to a list of assurances to prevent British citizens currently living in the EU suffering what it says are significant healthcare and pensions difficulties after Brexit.
According to The Guardian, Aberavon asked the government to commit to an indefinite right for UK citizens and their families to return to the UK in future; continued funding for healthcare until any post-Brexit agreement is reached; and uprating the pensions of UK nationals living in the EU for as long as they continue to live there.
“We acknowledge that the UK government cannot take unilateral action to mitigate every difficulty faced by UK citizens in the EU, since this sometimes requires reciprocity by our EU partners,” Aberavon wrote. “But we were also told that the UK government could be doing more in a number of areas.
“The situation, as it stands, means that many UK citizens have now lived in a state of anxiety and uncertainty for several years.
“Many UK nationals moved to the EU several decades ago and did so with a reasonable expectation that the rights to which they were then entitled would not be subsequently removed without due notice and consultation.”
Withdrawal Agreement Bill in limbo
Boris Johnson was forced to hit the pause button on his Brexit legislation last week after MPs rejected his plan to get it through the Commons in three days.
The bill that would turn his Brexit plan into law – the Withdrawal Agreement Bill – was published on Monday last week.
MPs backed the bill – but later voted against the timetable, leaving it in limbo.
Mr Johnson told the Commons he would ‘pause’ the legislation.