Nicola Sturgeon: 'You are not bargaining chips — you are human beings with families, jobs, friends and lives here'
Nicola Sturgeon: 'You are not bargaining chips — you are human beings with families, jobs, friends and lives here' © Reuters

Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to make the interests of EU citizens living in Scotland central to her government’s response to the Brexit referendum, saying the UK’s refusal to guarantee them residence rights is “disgraceful”.  

The first minister moved to reassure European immigrants at a meeting on Wednesday in Edinburgh attended by hundreds of EU nationals.

“My commitment to you today is that the interests of all of you, all of you who already play such a big part in the success of our country, will be centre stage,” Ms Sturgeon told the gathering. 

Although immigration issues are controlled by the UK government, Ms Sturgeon vowed to seek a “cast-iron guarantee” during talks with London that EU citizens would be able to remain. 

The government has said Europeans living in the UK may be granted leave to remain after Brexit, but that such a move would be dependent on EU government’s giving the same guarantee to Britons on the continent.

“I think it is disgraceful that such a guarantee hasn’t already been given,” Ms Sturgeon said. “You are not bargaining chips — you are human beings with families, jobs, friends and lives here.” 

Caroline Magoha, an Italian citizen who has lived in Scotland since 2012, said uncertainty was clouding her son’s future and meant the family had to live “with one foot out the door”. 

Włodzimierz Szepielow, president of an association of Poles living in Dundee, said that many were deeply concerned about the implications of Brexit and some were already talking of leaving Scotland. 

She urged Ms Sturgeon to introduce a “Scottish resident card” as a “visible assurance from the Scottish government that they are really welcome here”. 

Ms Sturgeon has said she may seek another referendum on independence from the UK to secure Scotland’s place in the EU, but on Wednesday suggested that Scottish concerns could be eased by the devolution of immigration powers. 

Concerns about immigration have been much less of a political issue in recent years in Scotland than in England, where population density is relatively high and growing much faster. Scotland’s already faltering economy is also seen as particularly vulnerable to any exodus of EU nationals. 

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2024. All rights reserved.
Reuse this content (opens in new window) CommentsJump to comments section

Follow the topics in this article

Comments