Gove’s brother-in-law: Thanks for ruining my idyllic life in Spain!
WHILE Tory Minister Michael Gove was celebrating Britain’s historic decision to leave the European Union, one close family member was appalled by the result.
His brother-in-law Ben Vine, brother of Mr Gove’s wife Sarah Vine, told The Mail on Sunday he now feared for his future.
Mr Vine, a photographer and artist, is one of scores of British expats living on the continent who have been thrown into turmoil by Thursday’s referendum result.
He said his biggest worry is he will lose his automatic right to work in Spain and be separated from his nine-year-old son if he has to return to England.
‘I live in Madrid and my son was born here,’ said Mr Vine. ‘I always took it for granted that I could just live and work here, but that may no longer be the case. I may be in a situation where I can’t live and work in the country where my son is.
‘The fact that I’m British means I automatically have a work permit. But I don’t know if this will continue to be the case.
‘I married a Spanish woman, but I don’t have dual nationality. So there’s a remote possibility that I would have to give up my nationality to continue living and working in Spain.’
Mr Vine also feared he could lose his right to free healthcare. He said: ‘I am now an immigrant from outside Europe. They’ve suddenly changed my status.’
Mr Vine said he was ineligible to vote in the referendum because he has been living abroad for so long.
But despite sharing family ties with Brexit campaign leader Gove, the 43-year-old said he was a firm supporter of staying in Europe.
Mr Vine said he and his sister Sarah both grew up in Italy before moving to Britain, so he felt ‘thoroughly European’.
Among the many other British expats in Spain who wanted Britain to remain in the EU are Annie Armandias, 73, and Piers O’Connor, 78, who moved to Estepona in the Costa del Sol two years ago.
Ms Armandias said last night: ‘Nobody we know here voted Out and it is utter shock and bitter disappointment.’
And Stephen Davies, 47, who runs an English bookshop and has lived in Estepona for 15 years, said he would have voted In but failed to qualify. He is now worried his business will be in jeopardy.
Meanwhile, Joan Lumsden, 70, and her husband James, 68, from Edinburgh, who live in the pretty Costa del Sol resort of La Duquesa, backed the idea of Scotland leaving the UK.