Thousands win the right to stay

THE number of European citizens given permission to live permanently in Britain has soared compared with figures before the Brexit vote.

A total of 32,481 European Economic Area nationals and their families were given cards confirming their right to live in the UK in the last three months of last year – a seven-fold rise from 4,924 in the same period in 2015.

Fears among EU nationals living here that they would be kicked out in the wake of June’s EU referendum are thought to be partly behind the increase.

But the surge was also because of growing confidence in Britain as the economy continued to expand in the wake of the ballot. According to Home Office data released yesterday, 65,195 EEA citizens and relatives were given the right to set up home in the UK in the whole of 2016. It was the highest total since records began in 2006 and was triple the 18,064 in the previous 12 months.

The EEA includes the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Members are part of the EU’s single market.

Prime Minister Theresa May wants to guarantee the rights of three million EU citizens living in the UK in return for British citizens on the continent being allowed to stay where they are – but the move has been blocked by EU leaders. EU citizens who have lived continuously in the UK for at least five years have a right to live permanently in Britain. Their family members can also apply for permanent residence – even if they are not from the EEA.

Migrants are not compelled to apply for a permanent residence certificate. But they must have one before applying for British citizenship – which would insulate them against any future changes.

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘European citizens resident in the UK make a vital contribution both to our economy and our society. That is why we will be making securing their status, as well as that of British nationals in the EU, a priority as soon as we trigger Article 50.’