Will Labour lead or duck the debate on immigration after Brexit?
Bridging the divides within Labour’s support on immigration and Brexit will not be simple, writes Jill Rutter, but it is not impossible
Tag Archive for EU
How Brexit offers a surprising opportunity for a new immigration consensus
'Can the desire for more control be combined with the aim that Britain will remain globally-engaged, in a common ground approach to post-Brexit immigration?' asks Sunder Katwala at the Conservative Progress 'Believe in the UK' conference
Our patchwork polarisation – and how to stitch it together
"Planet Remain and Planet Leave might be fewer light years apart than we tend to recognise," says Sunder Katwala in this speech at the University of East Anglia looking at how to heal post-Brexit divisions
Leave and Remain voices back shared vision for how UK can ‘Brexit Together’
Voices from across EU referendum and party political divides have come together today to set out a shared vision of how the UK can ‘Brexit Together’, covering issues of immigration, the economy and market access, security and sovereignty.
Inquiry: EU nationals living in UK should be given permanent residence
An independent Inquiry into the status of EU nationals in the UK after Brexit publishes its report today, recommending that those in the UK before Article 50 is triggered should get Permanent Residence.
ONS migration statistics: time to look to the future
A the ONS publishes new net migration figures, we should move on from debating the failings of the old, broken target, says Sunder Katwala, and focus on a plan for what our immigration system looks like after Brexit, when we should expect free movement to have come to an end.
EU migrants Inquiry: Coventry meeting seeks EU citizens’ views
A national Inquiry, examining how the Government can practically protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit, comes to Coventry on 8 November in a public meeting at Warwick Road United Reform Church, seeking EU citizens’ views on Brexit and the challenges they face in securing their rights.
The Inquiry, coordinated by British Future, starts from the principled position that securing the rights of EU citizens to stay in the UK is the right thing to do. Its aim will be to examine how to make this work in practice, and to make practical recommendations to the Government.
When: 6.30-8.30pm, Tuesday 8 November 2016
Where: Warwick Road United Reform Church, 10 Warwick Road, Coventry CV1 1EX
Jill Rutter, Director of Strategy for British Future and coordinator of the Inquiry, said:
“Many EU citizens in the Midlands and across the UK will have been anxious since the referendum about their status in the UK. Our Inquiry needs to hear from them. “Are people applying for residency and what difficulties have they experienced? Have they received information or reassurance from their employers? Has the Brexit decision had any impact on how they access public services or housing?
“We need to hear about people’s real experiences as our Inquiry is concerned with the practical challenges of granting status to the 3.5 million EU citizens living in the UK. That won’t be straightforward but we hope our recommendations will offer some practical help and guidance to the Government.”
ICM research for British Future finds that 84% of people in the Midlands (and 84% of the whole UK public) supports letting EU migrants stay – including three-quarters (77%) of Leave voters – with any future changes to freedom of movement applying only to new migrants. The Government has stated that it anticipates that this will happen, though the delay in doing so is causing unnecessary anxiety for EU migrants and uncertainty for businesses that rely on their labour.
The Inquiry panel, made up of cross-party MPs, public figures and academics from both Leave and Remain sides of the referendum campaign, is chaired by Birmingham MP Gisela Stuart, former Chair of the Vote Leave campaign. Members of the Inquiry panel include Conservative MP Suella Fernandes; Suzanne Evans of UKIP; Labour MP Kate Green; Fraser Nelson, Editor of the Spectator; Seamus Nevin of the Institute of Directors; and Owen Tudor of the TUC. It will report later in autumn/winter 2016, setting out practical recommendations about how to resolve the status of EU nationals living in the UK.
A national Inquiry, examining how the Government can practically protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit, comes to Coventry on 8 November in a public meeting at Warwick Road United Reform Church, seeking EU citizens’ views on Brexit and the challenges they face in securing their rights. The Inquiry, coordinated byReactions to our proposal for a ‘preferential’ immigration offer to the EU
Heres how media and other voices responded to our new proposal for a preferential system for EU immigration to the UK.
A new immigration offer to Europe
In a new report today, 'Britain’s immigration offer to Europe', British Future sets out a proposal for a new, preferential system for EU immigration to the UK.
Immigration: what did we learn from Conservative Party Conference?
What did the Conservative Party's first conference after the referendum, and under new Prime Minister Theresa May, tell us about future immigration policy?
Which Brexit will we choose?
As ministers meet to brainstorm Britain's Brexit options, Sunder Katwala looks at the ideas on the table at Chequers
What next after Brexit? Immigration & integration in post-referendum Britain
Consulting the public should form part of a comprehensive review of immigration policy after Brexit, says a new report
New Inquiry to examine how Government can protect rights of EU citizens in UK
A call for evidence was issued today by a new Inquiry, chaired by Gisela Stuart MP, examining how the Government can protect the rights of the 3 million EU citizens living in the UK after Brexit.
Britain votes to Leave – we must now come together to get the best Brexit for Britain
Responding to Britain’s historic referendum decision to leave the EU, Sunder Katwala, Director of independent identity and integration thinktank British Future, said:
“This historic vote presents a big challenge to our political leaders. Not just Prime Minister David Cameron but just as importantly his colleagues who have led the Leave campaign to victory – Boris Johnson and Michael Gove. How they react to this moment will help to set the national mood in the days ahead.
“This was a close decision, one made by peaceful, democratic means, and a decision we must all now respect. Those who have disagreed during the campaign must now come together and ensure we all get the best Brexit for Britain – one that respects the voters’ decision, ensures our prosperity and reflects our values of tolerance, fairness and openness to the rest of the world.
“The vote to Leave was a public vote of no confidence: in the Remain campaign; in the EU as the best way to pursue the UK’s interests; and in how governments have handled immigration.
“On immigration, the government will need to listen to the voters and rebuild the public trust that has been eroded by unkept promises. Most people want immigration managed competently and fairly: they don’t feel the pressures have been dealt with properly but they do still want to keep the benefits of immigration to our economy and our society.
“We now need to hear a clear message from both sides of the referendum debate, and from the government, that this was not a vote to slam the borders shut or to stir up prejudice against those Europeans already living among us as workmates, neighbours and friends.
“There is real and understandable anxiety among the 3 million EU migrants who live in Britain about what the Leave vote means for them. The best response to that would be an unequivocal statement – from politicians and the British people – that this is their home and they continue to be welcome here.”
British Future has launched a Change.or petition, ‘Tell EU migrants in UK: This is your home, you are welcome here‘
Sunder Katwala is Director of British Future and co-author of ‘How (not) to talk about Europe’ (British Future, 2016)
Responding to Britain’s historic referendum decision to leave the EU, Sunder Katwala, Director of independent identity and integration thinktank British Future, said: “This historic vote presents a big challenge to our political leaders. Not just Prime Minister David Cameron but just as importantly his colleagues who have led the Leave campaign to victory – Boris JohnsonAn historic vote to Leave – and why we must now come together
The public vote to Leave the EU will be a test of political leadership - and of all of us as citizens too, writes Sunder Katwala
ONS statistics – net migration target surely dead if UK votes ‘Remain’ in June
Responding to May's ONS migration figures, Sunder Katwala says the net migration target is surely dead if the UK votes on 23 June to remain in the EU.
Call for ‘Common sense consensus’ on status of EU migrants after referendum
Organisations across the spectrum of views on immigration and the EU referendum debate joined forces today in a call for a ‘common sense consensus’ on the status of EU migrants already living in the UK after the referendum
Would Brexit end Britain? A tale of two unions
As Nicola Sturgeon uses a speech in London to set out her case for why the UK should vote to stay in the EU, Sunder Katwala asks what the implications of the EU referendum might be for Scotland and its relationship with the rest of the UK.
How (not) to talk about Europe
A new pamphlet by British Future explores how and why the referendum remains up for grabs for both sides
EU benefits reform may reassure voters, but PM shouldn’t over-claim immigration impact
David Cameron’s EU benefits reforms could have more impact on public opinion than his critics acknowledge. But they won't slash immigration, writes Sunder Katwala
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