Thanks to everybody who’s been in touch with me recently regarding the important issue of EU nationals working and living in the UK and the absolutely valid concerns around the settled status scheme. 

I have voted consistently in Parliament in favour of granting EU nationals an immediate right to remain in the UK, and the right to have their families join them. It remains a matter of deep personal regret that the referendum outcome in 2016 has led to the current situation. That is a consequence of the policy decisions taken by successive Conservative Governments since 2016. 

As you quite rightly set out, the current pandemic has shone a light on the essential role that EU nationals living and working in the UK play, across our vital services. We both knew that before the pandemic, but many more people now know it. 

With an 80 seat majority, the UK Government was recently able to get its dreadful immigration legislation through parliament despite Labour MPs including me and other parties’ MPs voting against it.  

We have and will continue to raise the problems with the settled status scheme with the Government.