Reform UK's latest policy proposals have sent shockwaves through the EU nationals' community in the UK, with many accusing the party of reneging on promises made during the Brexit referendum. Nigel Farage's Reform UK aims to introduce a draconian migration regime, targeting those already living and working in the country with significant restrictions on access to social housing and employment opportunities.
Under current rules, EU nationals with settled status enjoy permanent residency rights, alongside entitlements to social security and pensions for themselves and their family members. Reform UK's proposals would necessitate a re-examination of the Brexit agreement between the UK and the EU, potentially triggering reciprocal measures from Brussels, including trade barriers or restrictions on UK citizens living in member states.
Reform UK's Treasury spokesperson, Robert Jenrick, unveiled the "migrants labour levy", which would require employers to pay increased National Insurance contributions for non-UK nationals. This includes an annual fee of up to £3,750 for low earners, a 15% surcharge on their national living wage, sparking concerns that long-standing EU residents could be priced out of work.
The3million campaign group has vociferously condemned the plans, citing the Leave campaign's repeated assurances during the Brexit referendum. Prominent Leave campaigners, including Nigel Farage, promised to safeguard people's rights, with Farage himself stating it would be "quite unreasonable" to force EU nationals out. Daniel Sohege from the3million expressed deep concern about a decade of uncertainty for EU citizens and successive government failures to uphold promises regarding their rights.
One EU national, Nicole, who has lived in the UK for 37 years and holds a long-term job, voiced her distress at the prospect of being forced out. She described the proposal as "absolutely outrageous," stating it would "pull the rug from under people that have been here for so long, who have done everything right." The Liberal Democrats' Europe spokesperson, Al Pinkerton, echoed this sentiment, warning that targeting established residents would destabilise the economy and provoke damaging retaliation from key trading partners.
The UK Government has yet to comment on the implications of Reform UK's proposals or whether they plan to support these measures. As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: EU nationals living in the UK are facing an uncertain future, with their rights hanging precariously in the balance.