‘Citizens’ right-to-remain guarantee is needed now’

THE CBI and the TUC have combined to issue a joint appeal to Brexit negotiators to resolve the issue of future citizens’ rights as a matter of urgency.

The two organisations – representing industry and trade unions – said the three million EU nationals living in the UK and one million British ex-pats in the EU had been caught up in an intolerable round of “human poker”.

In a rare joint statement, CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn and TUC secretary general Frances O’Grady said the UK and the EU needed to issue a clear guarantee “within weeks” that they could carry on living where they are.

Such a guarantee, they added, should be implemented independently of the rest of the negotiations so that it is not affected if the two sides fail to reach a deal.

“After 15 months of human poker, the uncertainty facing four million European and UK citizens has become intolerable,” they said.

“It is a blight on the values of our nations. Millions of workers and thousands of firms are today united in their call to leaders on both sides to find an urgent solution. A guarantee of the right to remain for citizens in both the UK and EU27 is needed within weeks.

“EU citizens account for 10% of registered doctors and 4% of registered nurses across the UK. Millions more work in the public and private sectors delivering public services and making a vital contribution to our economy.

“They need to hear that they will be allowed to remain in the UK, whatever the eventual outcome of negotiations. Not only is this important for our economy, it is the right thing to do.”