Letter to Theresa May MP - Racist attacks against EU nationals in the UK

Rt Hon Theresa May, MP

Secretary of State for the Home Department

Home Office

2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

 

Date: 29th June 2016

 

Dear Theresa,

Racist attacks against EU nationals in the UK

As you will be aware, following last week’s EU referendum, there has been a significant and deeply disturbing rise in racial abuse and other hate crimes.

We recognise that the Government has condemned these crimes in response to the wave of intolerance which has been heavily reported in the media, and we welcome the new action plan on tackling hate crime. However, it is clear that further action is necessary.

Years of steady progress towards a more respectful, tolerant, and cohesive society have already been eroded. This has not taken place overnight and is not exclusive to the EU Referendum. Instead, what we are witnessing is the culmination of ongoing and successive failures to make the positive case for immigration, and to stand up for migrants rights.

Media reports of recent incidents suggest that many have been perpetrated by those who have the mistaken belief that the referendum result means that EU nationals, and other ethnic minorities, must now leave the UK. It is, therefore, vital that the Government clarifies the legal status of EU nationals living in the UK and confirms that this has not changed as a result of the referendum outcome. This myth must be dispelled as a matter of urgency.

We believe there is now a pressing need to take urgent action to safeguard and protect EU nationals and ethnic minorities currently resident in the UK, by making it expressly and unequivocally clear that all those legally in the UK will be able to remain. We suggest that this would be best achieved by opening a new and expeditious route for such persons to apply for and be granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK under UK law.

Yours sincerely,

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