Declaring residency is not unusual in EU

Madam, – Whenever I see a politician holding a baby in front of a camera or putting an arm around a frail OAP I can’t help feeling uncomfortable.

Sometimes this notion borders on emotional blackmail because, even if the political agenda behind such a publicity stunt may be glaringly obvious, one feels obliged to let feelings of sympathy override a more rational consideration of the actual issue at hand.

The settled status registration scheme for EU nationals living in the UK is such an issue which the SNP uses relentlessly to stir resentment, to portray Westminster as a callous regime and to play on the fears of those affected.

Yet EU citizens’ reactions vary. Some do feel victimised while others shrug it off as a minor inconvenience.

After all, in many of their home countries it’s mandatory for EU nationals to register their residence with the relevant authorities.

For example in Denmark EU citizens must obtain an EU Registration Certificate if they

enforced. Sadly in recent times stop and search has been crippled by the bien pensant with their fauxequality and institutionally racist nonsense.

I have also been aware on my visits to New York of the constant NYPD police presence.

It was once considered far more dangerous than London – a situation now reversed – so its difficult to accept the government’s reassurance that the absence of police officers on our streets is are going to stay for more than three months.

Denmark also happens to be the native country of Mrs Tove Macdonald whose case has become a political football which the Nationalists have kicked into the public arena and are playing with gusto in social media and the main debating chamber in the House of Commons.

All of this might be of little comfort to Mrs Macdonald who deserves sympathy for her feelings and it’s debatable whether Ian Blackford’s grievance-

not a significant cause of the rise in knife crime. ridden rant in the Commons will do anything to actually help her.

Perhaps it would be more useful if Mrs Macdonald’s local MP clarified with the Home Office whether EU nationals like her, who came to Britain some 10 or 15 years after the war and might have had their indefinite leave to remain confirmed long before the UK joined the EU, are in fact exempt from settled status registration.

Regina Erich. 1 Willow Row, Stonehaven.