Continued Funding Announced on Europe Day
More EU citizens will be supported to remain in Scotland, thanks to renewed funding for the Stay in Scotland campaign.
In partnership with the Citizens’ Rights Project, COSLA and Settled – an independent charity helping EU citizens to stay in the UK – over £200,000 will help vulnerable people apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
The Stay in Scotland campaign was launched in 2019 to help EU citizens understand and secure their rights through the uncertainties presented by Brexit. Throughout the campaign, more than £2 million has been provided to community organisations to help people apply for settled status, with funding of £216,850 to be given for 2023-2024.
The announcement has been made on Europe Day, 9th May, which has also seen the SNP set out its position on Europe in the event that it holds the balance of power following the next UK General Election.
It has said that any negotiations with a minority Labour government would entail a demand that the UK has a close relationship with the EU – with Single Market membership and free movement being key priorities, as well as rejoining beneficial programmes like Erasmus and Horizon Europe.
The latest YouGov poll, conducted on 1st May, shows 84% of Scots and 67% of people across the UK think the UK government is handling Brexit badly, with just 9% of Scots and 22% of people across the UK believing the UK government is handling Brexit well. A separate poll conducted by Savanta for ITV Peston, between 28th April and 3rd May, found 86% of young people across the UK aged 18-25 want to rejoin the EU.
The SNP is the only major party to support rejoining the EU – after U-turns from Keir Starmer’s pro-Brexit Labour Party and the Lib Dems.
I very much welcome the Scottish Government’s extension of support for ensuring EU citizens can stay in Scotland and continue to contribute positively to our society.
GRAEME
Scotland is a European nation whose people lost their own EU citizenship against their will, through a disastrous Brexit that has harmed the whole UK – costing the economy billions and damaging our NHS.
While only independence can rectify this state of affairs, the SNP would certainly use any position of influence it may have over a minority Labour government following the next UK General Election.
We would push Labour to rethink its grievous embracing of Brexit and call for undoing its damage as far as possible, while demanding the referendum powers that would allow Scotland to escape Brexit entirely.
On Europe Day, Scotland can proudly celebrate the contribution EU citizens make to our society, culture and economy.
MIGRATION MINISTER EMMA RODDICK
As we continue to build the case for an independent Scotland within the EU, additional funding for the Stay in Scotland campaign will help ensure EU citizens, particularly those who need assistance with complex applications, get the support they need to gain settled status.
We’re also urging the Home Office to immediately upgrade everyone from pre-settled to settled status. This would help remove the unnecessary stress and anxiety of being forced to re-apply to the EUSS.
Scotland is stronger for its multi-culturalism and our message to EU citizens this Europe Day is clear: you are, and always will be, welcome in Scotland.
Background
More information about how to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme: EU citizens living in Scotland – mygov.scot
The Independent Monitoring Authority recently won its judicial review against the Home Office, with the court agreeing that EU citizens should not lose their rights if they fail to re-apply to the EUSS before the expiry of their pre-settled status.
