| Good afternoon, | Boris Johnson unveiled his plan for the UK’s post-Brexit immigration system this week and as intended it grabbed all the headlines.
“UK to close door to non-English speakers and unskilled workers” was one headline. “Boris’s border blueprint” was another.
While much of the focus was on the impact on the British economy and the industries that rely on low skilled labour, little of course was said about how the new system would impact Brits already living in the EU as well as those who want to move here in the future.
The campaigners we spoke to this week explained how Johnson’s border plan will affect both groups, even those of us whose rights are protected under the Withdrawal Agreement.
Here’s a taster from British in Europe’s Fiona Godfrey: “Of course, it’s not going to help Brits who want or need to leave their host country to find work elsewhere in the EU if the member states reciprocate, which we expect them to do.”
But there are many more potential ramifications.
One of the less-discussed but hugely important issues for Britons currently in Europe is what will happen in the future if they want to return to the UK, or indeed they have to, with their European partners and children?
Basically Britain’s planned new immigration rules, that include English language requirements and minimum salary levels, will make it harder for many EU nationals to follow their UK partners to Britain.
We took a look at the rules and dates that are in place for UK nationals intending to return home in the future. In short you might have to start planning for the future.
