An Aberdeen councillor who moved to Scotland from France more than 30 years ago will refuse to apply to remain in the UK after Brexit, labelling the process a “disgraceful indignity”.
Christian Allard, who was a North East MSP from 2013 to 2016 and now represents the Torry and Ferryhill ward on Aberdeen City Council, began living in the country in 1986.
He has now lashed out at the suggestion the Home Office will charge European Union citizens £65 to apply to keep living in the UK, or face being deported.
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The 54-year-old SNP representative said he will not go along with the scheme, despite Home Secretary Sajid Javid last week implying that such a move could result in deportation.
Mr Allard has now encouraged others to “stand up against” the scheme by delaying their response until the full implications of Brexit become clear.
The application process will begin in March and is expected to affect about three million people in the UK, including many who have lived in the country for decades.
The scheme will check the identity, residence status and criminal record of all EU citizens living in the country.
Adults will have to pay a £65 fee to apply to remain in the UK, while children younger than 16 will be expected to pay £32.50.
Mr Allard, who was born in Dijon and first came to Scotland to work in the fishing industry, believes that no EU national can assume that they will be granted permission to remain.
He said: “If you look at the Home Office’s record, with things like the Windrush scandal, there seems to be a hostile environment when it comes to deportation.
“That is what could happen to us.
“Even people campaigning for Leave told me that this could never happen to me, but that is not a certainty.
“We are far from happy and far from reassured.
“People have from March until June 2021 to apply, so I am asking that they wait as long as possible.
“We don’t know for sure if Brexit will happen or of it will be delayed, so people should hold off on applying.
“That will also send a message that this approach is entirely wrong.”
