ALBERTO Costa, the Conservative MP campaigning for citizens’ rights post Brexit, is to confront Boris Johnson in person next week after branding the UK Government’s plan to immediately end free movement of people when Britain leaves the EU as “nonsense on stilts”.
The backbencher told The Herald: “What Priti Patel has done is thrown red meat to the hard Brexit crocodiles. How can the Government put a workable policy in place between now and October 31, to check people at the border that they are lawfully resident here? It’s nonsense on stilts. It’s unworkable.”
The cause the Glaswegian espouses is close to home; his Italian parents have lived in Britain for more than 50 years but have never naturalised and remain Italian citizens.
In February, the South Leicestershire MP was forced to resign his role as private parliamentary secretary to the then Scottish Secretary David Mundell in order to amend Government legislation.
His proposed change urged Tory ministers to seek “at the earliest opportunity a joint UK-EU commitment to adopt” the part of the Withdrawal Agreement securing the rights of EU citizens in the UK and British nationals settled in the EU, whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations. Theresa May supported the move.
But Mr Costa, who has been campaigning on the issue for three years, fears, despite the new Prime Minister’s rhetoric on protecting the rights of EU citizens living in Britain, that chaos will ensue should Britain crash out of the EU with no deal on October 31.
Earlier this week, Ms Patel, the Home Secretary, sparked controversy when she made clear it was the Government’s intention to end free movement on Brexit Day. Downing St was keen to stress that the EU Settlement Scheme, under which the 3.4 million EU citizens living in Britain can register to remain in Britain, would continue. However, more than two million people have still to apply.
“It’s wholly unclear what the Government will do if it ends free movement immediately. If it does this, it will create legal chaos and result in litigation from EU citizens,” claimed Mr Costa.
Downing St has insisted an announcement on the way forward will be made soon, stressing how the settlement scheme will continue as before.
The backbencher has demanded Mr Johnson honour his personal pledge to the MP to introduce legislation to enshrine EU citizens’ rights. But it is thought the PM is wary of doing so for fear any immigration bill will, in the current circumstances, be amended by MPs seeking to stall or cancel Brexit.
During his visits to Berlin and Paris this week, Mr Johnson repeatedly stressed his commitment to protecting the rights of EU citizens living in Britain.
Figures out this week showed the level of EU immigration to the UK was at its lowest level since 2031 at 200,000 for the year ending March. The net migration level from the EU - the difference between those arriving and leaving - was 59,000; to the year for March 2015 it peaked at 219,000. Brexit and the lack of jobs are reasons suggested for the fall-off.
Mr Costa highlighted a ministerial letter, which made reference to a new immigration category of “temporary leave to remain,” saying: “This looks like the Government intends to push the responsibility for checking EU citizens’ status on landlords, employers and public authorities. It’s further obfuscation.”
The Scot pointed out that the Government’s lack of policy also had a bearing on the 1.3 million Britons living on the continent. “If we don’t pass primary legislation to protect EU citizens, then EU member states won’t pass legislation to protect British citizens.
“Spain has passed a royal decree to protect Britons living in its country but it is contingent on the UK first passing primary legislation protecting the rights of its citizens living here,” he explained.
Mr Costa revealed he will meet Mr Johnson in person next week to discuss his concerns and urge him to honour his pledge. He vowed to use the “whole panoply” of opportunities at Westminster, including tabling Urgent Questions, writing parliamentary questions and speaking privately to ministers, to ensure the rights of all EU citizens living in Britain, including his parents, are fully protected post Brexit.
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