Watching the results of the European Union referendum coming through early in the morning of June 24 was deeply concerning, as it seemed more and more likely that the outcome was going to be a majority for Leave across the UK.
As I watched the results coming in though, I was also watching my social media and email inboxes fill with correspondence from constituents worried about what this would mean, not only for our country as a whole but for Aberdeen and the people from the European Union who have chosen to make Scotland their home.
Almost half of the correspondence and cases taken on by my office over the past month have been related to the EU. It is highly unusual for so much of this correspondence to be dominated by one issue; in fact, this is the first time this has happened since I won my seat last year. It is overwhelming just how many EU nationals are feeling anxious or unfairly targeted in the wake of the referendum vote. Not only were their voices silenced because their right to vote was denied, but now they have no assurances from the UK Government as to whether they can stay, or will be told to go.
It is not just EU nationals contacting me, though. I have heard from a young woman who had planned a future in the Netherlands, from a university lecturer concerned for her students, from a man whose partner was born abroad and from an older lady whose son lives in Spain and whose best friend is from Poland. All of these people are worried that their freedoms are under threat and that their quality of life will be reduced if Scotland is dragged out of the EU against her will.
This week we have seen criticism of SNP MPs and MSPs for sending our EU national constituents letters reassuring them that they remain welcome in Scotland and promising that we will do all we can to defend Scotland’s clear desire to remain within the European Union. I expect other parties will continue to try find reasons to criticise the SNP, but to claim there is not uncertainty amongst Europeans living here is naïve at best, and ignorant at worst. My email inbox is evidence enough that the damage, division and uncertainty caused by the EU referendum is being felt by many people.
It has been more than three weeks since we found out the result of the UK referendum on our membership of the European Union and we still have not had any assurance for EU nationals from either of the two Prime Ministers we have had during that time. Theresa May must now answer the question her predecessor wouldn’t: “What will be the status of EU nationals currently living in the UK, should we exit the EU?” The Tories must answer this question that they’ve had months to prepare for and make sure the interests of EU nationals living and working in the UK is their number one priority.
