For immediate release:

PM SCRAPS SETTLED STATUS FEE FOR EU CITIZENS AFTER CAMPAIGN

The Prime Minister Theresa May has announced the hugely controversial Settled Status fee for EU citizens will be scrapped.

Previously, the UK Government had planned to force EU citizens to pay a £65 administration fee for their right to continued residence in the UK. Applications for children were set to incur a charge of £32.50.

Although EU citizens no longer require to pay a fee, they still must apply for settled status.

Many employers had already committed to paying the fees for their employees, including the Scottish Government who pledged to cover the cost for all EU nationals working in the public sector.

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has welcomed the U-turn, and has said she has been in touch with many EU national constituents over the last few weeks who weren’t even aware they had to apply for settled status.

Commenting, Clare Haughey MSP said:

“EU nationals in Rutherglen and Cambuslang should never have been asked to pay this fee in order to remain in their own homes and maintain the rights they already have.

“Thanks to the work of the campaign group the 3 Million, as well as Scottish Government persistence on this issue, I’m glad the UK Government has finally seen sense and dropped these appalling plans.

“This is a major U-turn from a beleaguered Prime Minister, who is desperately trying to cling onto power. But this does not change the fact that EU citizens should not be asked to apply simply to retain the rights that they already have to live, work and study in Scotland.

“EU citizens will always remain welcome in my Rutherglen constituency and across Scotland – they are valued members of all of our communities, our friends, neighbours and colleagues.”

ENDS

Notes:

Further information on the Settled Status Scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

Details of the U-turn can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46950719

Date published: 28th January 2019