Threat to EU nationals working in Parliament

BREXIT-BACKING MPS and ministers have been condemned as “disgraceful” for refusing to guarantee the rights of EU citizens in the UK as it emerged almost 200 people working in Parliament face an uncertain future because of their nationality.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the Government was happy for parliamentary staff to be used as “bargaining chips” in negotiations with Brussels.

Theresa May has said she wants the rights of EU citizens in the UK, and Britons on the continent, to be resolved early in the Brexit negotiations. But the Prime Minister has resisted pressure to unilaterally offer guarantees to EU citizens, preferring to ensure reciprocal agreements are reached for the Britons living in other member states.

Figures obtained by Lib Dem London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon revealed the numbers of parliamentary staff whose status could be affected by Brexit.

There are some 195 EU nationals working in the Commons and Lords, including 35 Irish citizens whose ‘special status’ the Government has vowed to maintain.

Mr Farron said: “MPs who voted for Brexit seem happy to have doors opened for them and be waited on in restaurants in the Palace of Westminster by EU staff, yet they are effectively saying to staff ‘you might have worked here all your adult life, but at any given moment we might send you packing if we are unable to use you as bargaining chips’.”