Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq keeps an eye on the ‘Brexitometer’ at the 2018 South End Green summer festival

• MORE than two years ago I argued that European Union citizens must have their status in Britain unilaterally guaranteed.

I believed this was a principled way to support over three million people – including thousands in Hampstead and Kilburn – who have contributed immeasurably to life in our country.

Despite this it took until last week for the home secretary to announce the rules for EU citizens seeking settled status in post-Brexit Britain. The move to simplify the documentation process was long overdue and welcome.

The challenge for the government is to answer the remaining questions EU nationals have over the announcement.

For example, the government has changed immigration rules using secondary legislation 58 times since 2012. Therefore the decision to use secondary legislation to implement settled status won’t encourage confidence that the new rules are legally binding on the government.

That is why I am happy to echo the calls of the 3 Million group, who have demanded that settled status rules are enshrined in any agreement reached with the EU27.

Another concern lies with the potential of “no deal”. The government’s rejection of any meaningful vote on the terms of the deal means that a failure to conclude negotiations successfully must be considered a genuine possibility.

When asked whether the new rules would stand in the event of “no deal”, ministers have responded by saying “we have confidence there will be a deal”.

This complacency is unacceptable and the home office must urgently build the infrastructure to prepare for any possible outcome. The reputation of the home office has been gravely damaged by successive crises, not least its treatment of the Windrush generation.

As a constituency MP I can attest to the fact that it routinely fails visa applicants, the majority of whom have complied with the rules.

With over 3.5 million people seeking to guarantee their futures, ministers need to set out how exactly the home office will prevent another crisis, and deliver the certainty EU nationals deserve.

TULIP SIDDIQ MP
Labour, Hampstead & Kilburn