<p>The Rights of European Citizens</p>

Part of 2. 2. Questions to the Counsel General – in the Senedd at 2:37 pm on 22 March 2017.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 2:37, 22 March 2017

Could I say, in response to that, that I actually fully agree with the statement that was made by Marilyn Brown of UKIP on ‘Sharp End’ only a matter of weeks ago, that EU citizens living in Wales should be given full citizenship now, and should not be used as bargaining chips, so there’s obviously a division within the position that UKIP has presented.

Can I also say that, in respect of children—that, in many ways, is one of the most upsetting and distressing parts of this whole scenario? I, like Members, have had representations made by EU citizens who actually describe their family situation, their family circumstances. I had one in particular who was worried that he might have to leave, leaving his teenage son and his Welsh wife behind, because, despite having lived and worked in Wales for 40 years, he would lose his entitlement to be a citizen. I hope that those rights are protected, but for those individuals affected, the humiliating position of having been seen to be someone who suddenly has no rights of citizenship is just plain wrong and immoral, and the Welsh Government has urged the United Kingdom Government to think again on this. I would repeat that urge, and I’m sure that is the view of the overwhelming majority of Members of this Assembly.