Keir Starmer faces calls to rectify issues within the EU citizens' status system post-Brexit, averting a repeat of past errors and ensuring equal treatment under law. The 3million organization and other stakeholders urge him for immediate action towards an exhaustive review of Home Office practices related to Brexit withdrawal agreement (WRA) implementation.
The WRA was designed to uphold the rights of EU citizens in the UK, yet has led to a court ruling against the government. Andreea Dumitrache from 3million emphasizes that addressing these shortcomings would not only restore trust between the UK and the EU but also facilitate stronger bilateral relations with their valued partner.
The open letter to Starmer, endorsed by law firms Kingsley Napley and Bindmans, experts like Prof Elspeth Guild of Queen Mary University of London, civil rights entities such as Rights of Women, Settled, Roma Support Group, Refugee Action, and In Limbo, requests the Prime Minister to take decisive measures.
Campaigners are seeking solutions for:
- Clearing the backlog of 137,000 EU citizens awaiting decisions on their status by Home Office.
- Revoking the expiration of residence cards held by certain EU citizens as of December 31st.
- Rectifying issues with the digital-only immigration status system and proposing more reliable alternatives for verification purposes, ensuring rights are not hindered.
The letter concludes that while acknowledging the current problems within the system, a fair solution is achievable if Starmer acts promptly on these recommendations, restoring faith in UK's commitment to its citizens and EU allies.
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