EU workers won’t ‘flee’ despite claim in note

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was forced to deny that he had received warnings of EU nationals “fleeing the UK” if the country opts for a hard Brexit, after the phrase was spotted on a briefing note which he carried into 10 Downing Street.

Arriving at Cabinet, Mr Hunt was seen holding a note containing a suggested responses to an expected question from Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, including the warning: “Hard Brexit means people fleeing the UK.”

The health secretary later told MPS he wants to give 150,000 EU nationals working in the NHS the opportunity to continue doing their “brilliant job”, and said he had “never been advised or believed Brexit means people ‘fleeing UK’”.

Mr Carmichael said: “Jeremy Hunt knows that Brexit will be a disaster for the NHS and it should be no surprise that the Health Secretary’s team expect him to be challenged on this issue.”

Yesterday morning, cabinet heard an announcement from Brexit Secretary David Davis that the crucial Repeal Bill, paving the way for Britain’s withdrawal from the EU, will be tabled next week.

Downing Street also said Theresa May approved a call from Mr Hunt and Business Secretary Greg Clark for continued close collaboration with the EU on the regulation of medicines after Brexit.

The London-based European Medicines Agency will leave the country after Brexit, creating uncertainty for Ukbased pharmaceutical firms.