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New poll shows four out of five UK expats live in fear of Brexit effect
| Published: | 15 Feb at 6 PM |
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Survey shows 80 per cent of respondents fear for their post Brexit lives.
A survey initiated by the Brussels and Europe Lib Dem group reveals that the vast majority of respondents are living in fear of the devastating effect of Brexit on their families and their lives. The survey, taken by 5,170 Britons living in EU member states, took place following last week’s Commons vote which opened the door for Theresa May to activate Article 50 next month.
Asked about their main concern about Brexit, 25 per cent of respondents, most of whom were living in Spain and France, listed the right to remain in their adopted countries. One British respondent living in Ireland with her non-EU citizen husband said she was dreading their being separated as her husband is only eligible to live and work due to her EU citizenship. She told the Independent she’s afraid he might be deported, as non-EU spouses are not eligible for work visas unless they have EU citizen spouses.
British student in Paris Dave Chadwick said his future employment prospects were a cause for concern, as he’d planned to seek work in either Germany or Belgium in order to make use of his master’s degree in European History. He added he’d be reluctant to relocate to the UK due to the expense of rending accommodation in London, and fears prospective employers might be less favourable towards a potential employee without EU citizenship.
According to Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament Catherine Bearder, the present pro-Brexit Conservative government is messing with the lives and families of UK citizens who’ve chosen to live overseas. Many were denied the right to vote in a referendum which would change their lives, with the government now using the same people as bargaining chips.
The majority of respondents to the survey were not members of the Liberal Democrat political party, and were living in Norway, EU member states, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
A survey initiated by the Brussels and Europe Lib Dem group reveals that the vast majority of respondents are living in fear of the devastating effect of Brexit on their families and their lives. The survey, taken by 5,170 Britons living in EU member states, took place following last week’s Commons vote which opened the door for Theresa May to activate Article 50 next month.
Asked about their main concern about Brexit, 25 per cent of respondents, most of whom were living in Spain and France, listed the right to remain in their adopted countries. One British respondent living in Ireland with her non-EU citizen husband said she was dreading their being separated as her husband is only eligible to live and work due to her EU citizenship. She told the Independent she’s afraid he might be deported, as non-EU spouses are not eligible for work visas unless they have EU citizen spouses.
British student in Paris Dave Chadwick said his future employment prospects were a cause for concern, as he’d planned to seek work in either Germany or Belgium in order to make use of his master’s degree in European History. He added he’d be reluctant to relocate to the UK due to the expense of rending accommodation in London, and fears prospective employers might be less favourable towards a potential employee without EU citizenship.
According to Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament Catherine Bearder, the present pro-Brexit Conservative government is messing with the lives and families of UK citizens who’ve chosen to live overseas. Many were denied the right to vote in a referendum which would change their lives, with the government now using the same people as bargaining chips.
The majority of respondents to the survey were not members of the Liberal Democrat political party, and were living in Norway, EU member states, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
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