I was glad that the UK Government eventually listened to calls from The Scottish Government, The Scottish Parliament, the3million campaign, businesses and many others and has dropped their fee for EU citizens for Settled Status.
This unjust and unwelcome fee should never have been introduced in the first place.
Relatives, friends, neighbours and colleagues from elsewhere in the EU should not have to apply at all to stay in their homes and continue contributing the huge amount that they do to our communities – economically, culturally and socially.
At this time, it is important that we continue to do all that we can to defend the rights of EU citizens and enhance Scotland’s reputation as a welcoming, outward-looking, European nation.
It was great to see Edinburgh welcome the world again this Hogmanay and celebrate our shared European cultural heritage this January with the Message from the Skies, Love Letters to Europe initiative. Edinburgh and Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union and that’s why I strongly support a second EU referendum with Remain on the ballot paper.”
by Ben Macpherson MSP for Edinburgh North and Leith
