THE EU WORKERS SHUNNING THE UK

THE NUMBER OF NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBERS REGISTERED TO EU CITIZENS IS AT ITS LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 2014

THE number of EU citizens coming to work in the UK has plummeted since Britain voted Leave. Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show that 426,014 adults from Europe had national insurance registrations in the year ending September 2018.

That is down from 548,504 registered in the year ending in September 2017, and is a 32 per cent drop from 629,057 the year of the Brexit vote. National insurance is a tax system for all UK employees that helps fund state benefits, and the money is automatically deducted from a person’s salary.

The falling number of national insurance registrations for EU workers suggest many are packing their bags and leaving the UK.

Maike Bohn, co-founder of the 3 Million, an EU citizen campaign group, said: “These numbers confirm a trend, but one that seems to be accelerating.

“Just as UK businesses are protecting themselves from risk by reducing numbers and moving abroad, EU citizens are making similar decisions based on risk and opportunity.

“And the risks of moving to the UK right now outweigh the opportunities.

“Potential candidates for UK vacancies are now considering their options in Germany, France, Spain and other countries, rather than jumping into an uncertain legal and economic adventure in Britain.”

All EU citizens who want to stay in the UK after 29 March will have to apply for either settled or pre-settled status

under the rules of the settlement scheme, unless they are Irish citizens or have indefinite leave to remain in the country.

People applying for settled status will need to prove they have lived in the UK for at least six months in any 12 month period over a total of five years.

If their settled status is granted, they will be able to stay and work in the UK for as long as they like, use the NHS, access benefits and pensions, and travel in and out of the country.

An EU national who has been living in the UK for less than six months in a year can apply for pre-settled status.

They will will be allowed to remain in the UK for a further five years, after which they can apply to change their status to “permanent”.

Richmondshire in North Yorkshire has seen the biggest percentage drop in the number of national insurance registrations for EU employees - down by 83 per cent between September 2016 and September 2018.

That was followed by Malvern Hills in Worcestershire (down by 67 per cent) and Christchurch near Bournemouth (down by 54 per cent).