720 EU nationals in Woking being left in legal limbo

720 EU nationals in Woking are being left in legal limbo

Hundreds of EU nationals living in Woking Borough have not been offered permanent residency in the UK, official figures have revealed. The Lib Dems have accused the government of leaving local families from the EU in "legal limbo" and throwing people's lives into uncertainty.

Of the 4,090 EU nationals across Woking who have applied for permanent residency, only 1,990 have been offered settled status. 1,360 have been granted pre-settled status, which only gives the temporary right to stay in the UK.

Another 720 EU nationals living in Woking have applied for permanent residency but are still waiting for a final decision to be made.

480 of the applications for settled status in Woking were for children, i.e. those under 18.

Lib Dem candidate for Woking, Will Forster, commented:

"Too many EU nationals in Woking are deeply anxious about their right to stay. Many of them fill vital roles in our health service and our schools. It is disgraceful for the Conservative Government to leave them in legal limbo like this."

"Families and children must not be made to live under a cloud of uncertainty any longer. The Lib Dems and I will stop Brexit, protect the rights of EU citizens and build a brighter future for our country."