Since this letter was published, Labour has now called on the government to extend the deadline for applications, but only until September.
Dear Keir,
On Wednesday 30th June, the deadline for Settled Status will pass and any European citizen who has yet to apply to the scheme could lose their access to benefits, healthcare, livelihood and even their right to be in the place they have built a home.
The existence of the Settled Status application process is itself a betrayal of the promises that Leave campaigners made during the EU referendum. Again and again, European citizens were told that their right to stay would be automatic. Instead, more than five million people are being forced through a dysfunctional system. Soon, they will be brought under the regime of an increasingly digitised and aggressive Hostile Environment.
The government is saying that the scale of applications demonstrates the success of the scheme – but the scale only serves to demonstrate the fact that we have no idea how many Europeans actually live here. It also means that, even with very low failure rates, the numbers of people whose lives could be ruined are very high. While most applications have been approved, millions are being given ‘pre-Settled Status’, meaning they could be refused in future, and some have already been rejected outright.
Many vulnerable people – those without adequate computer literacy, children in care, people suffering personal crises – will not yet have applied. Meanwhile, the government has only very recently changed the rules on Covid exemptions, meaning that many people are unaware that they are now eligible. The Home Office says it will assess late applications on a case-by-case basis, but this gives no one any guarantees.
So far, Labour has not said or done enough about this situation. Last year, all other opposition parties signed up to the Right to Stay principle – replacing the application process with an automatic one – but Labour declined to do so. It has yet to prominently raise the issue either in parliament or in the press.
It is simply inexcusable for Labour to remain quiet. The status of hundreds of thousands of people is on the line.
That is why we are asking Labour to:
- Use every available parliamentary mechanism – votes, debates and PMQs – to call on the government to drop the deadline, and to win meaningful guarantees for late applicants if it is not dropped.
- Sign up to support the Right to Stay principle, and campaign for its implementation after the deadline has passed.
- Speak out on the rights of migrants and against the Hostile Environment.
Yours Sincerely,
Laura Parker, former Momentum National Coordinator
Michael Chessum, Another Europe is Possible national organiser
Alena Ivanova, Labour Campaign for Free Movement
Gaya Sriskanthan, National Co-Chair of Momentum, Labour International CLP
Julie Ward, Former Labour MEP, NW Durham CLP
Sandy Martin, Ipswich CLP and former MP
Ian Allinson, Manchester TUC exec, personal capacity
Deborah Hermanns, Momentum NCG member, Camberwell and Peckham CLP
Tracy Murphy , Ipswich CLP
Dave Levy, Secretary of Lewisham Deptford CLP and GMB X58 Branch President
Joan Twelves, Vauxhall CLP
Cllr Jo Bird, Secretary, Birkenhead CLP
Magi Young, Exeter CLP
Hannah Sawtell, Nottingham East CLP
Tina May
Christopher Rogers, Hornsey and Wood Green CLP
Marianne Kate
Martin Horan
Jenny Howell, Islington North CLP
Tonia Ilia, Islington North CLP
Sophia Mangera
Jerry Elsmore, Branch Chair Unite the Union NE/208/6, Sheffield Brightside & Hillsborough CLP
Daniel Nichols, Romford CLP
Tamara Dragadze
Sandra King
Valerie Eve Jeffries, Faversham and mid Kent CLP
Jon Keyte
Lizzie White, Bristol West CLP
Sue Mew, Walthamstow CLP
Margaret Symonds, South Thanet CLP
Graham Southall, Wirral South CLP
Jo Haffenden
Elizabeth Alway
Jilly Grower, Bournemouth East CLP
Sacha Ismail, Unite LE 524 branch
Bob Smith, Stretford and Urmston CLP.
Timothy Stiles, North Herefordshire CLP
Sally Farrands , Nottingham East CLP
Martyn Hobbs
Karen Archer, Putney CLP
John Gaskell, South West Surrey CLP
David Taylor-Gooby, Easington CLP
Christopher Campbell, North Herefordshire CLP
Chris Jones, Coventry NW CLP
Peter Cuthbert
Cllr Mike Roberts, Aldershot CLP
Mike Rowley, Labour Councillor, Oxford East CLP
Sarah Perrigo, Political Education Officer , Leeds NE CLP
- Beaumont
Sarah Jones, Milton Keynes CLP
Margaret Jones, Milton Keynes CLP
Philip Cernym, Emeritus Professor, University of Manchester, York Central
Eleanor Llewelyn
Jim Jones
Glyn Jones, Milton Keynes CLP
Hanne Lee, Richmond Park CLP
Dr. R.L.Symonds, Chair Broadstairs Branch LP and Chair, Dover, Deal and Thanet Cooperative Party, South Thanet CLP
Helen Tucker, CLP Political Education & Training Officer, Workington
Jim Brookes, Thornbury and Yate CLP
James Ryder, Labour International CLP
Stephen McNair, Political Education Officer, Broadland CLP
Meg van Rooyen, Warwick and Leamington CLP
Rita O Brien, CLP Vice Chair, Canterbury
Hilary Fraser, Bath CLP
Jean Churm
Jeremy Lynton
Ruth Tetlow
Paul Pateman
Rosemary Bechler, Haringey
Elizabeth Cannon
Benjamin Eckford Youth Officer and North East regional rep, Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform, personal capacity, Newcastle upon Tyne North CLP
Stuart Cox, Dover/Deal CLP
Timothy Mullen, Stoke-on-Trent South CLP
Jane Wheeler
Kas Witana, CLP Political Education Officer, Penistone and Stocksbridge
Barbara Veale, Lewisham Deptford CLP
Andreas Latta, Wycombe CLP
Chris Lawrence, Wimbledon CLP
Jane Caplan, Oxford East CLP
Alan White, Streatham CLP
Martin Vegoda, Bristol West CLP
Linda Reilly
Susan Loppert , Islington South CLP
Catherine Lynott Wilson, Brighton Labour
Joan Green, Cambridge CLP
Hunter Christian Christopher, Young Fabian International Network Secretary, Finchley & Golders Green CLP
Alyson Fisk, Newark CLP
Wyn Jeffery, Itchen Southampton CLP
Heidy Kempe-Böttcher
Tracey Hylton, Liverpool Riverside CLP
Felicity Taylor Holborn and St Pancras CLP
Susan Loppert , Islington South CLP
Bryony Abis
Liz Strutt
Maria Carrol, Secretary and PPC, Carmarthen East & Dinefwr CLP
Paul Leon John Mackney, Former General Secretary of UCU (Natfhe), Chipping Barnet CLP
Fil Baker
Barry Warwick , Mid Derbyshire CLP
Erica Levy, Hornsey and Wood Green CLP
Angela Royston, Islington North CLP
Ann-Marie Casely, Mid Derbyshire CLP
Farah Wise
Judy Atkinso, Trade union liaison officer, Brentford and Isleworth CLP
Kait Duerden , Montgomeryshire CLP
Victoria Deakin, Wallasey CLP
Gordon McHugh, Witney CLP
Paul Grover, Braintree CLP
Ann Hughes, Secretary Lichfield City Branch, Lichfield CLP
Ann Rosenberg, Councillor, Fulham & Chelsea CLP
Gavin Edwards, Emeritus Professor of English, University of South Wales, Walthamstow CLP
Helen Froggatt, Montgomeryshire CLP
Jenny Budd, Bristol North West CLP
David Utting, St Albans CLP
Alex Barlow
Jane Terris, Montgomeryshire
Mark Cunliffe, Stratford District CLP
Peter Taylor
Pat Farrington, Hornsey and Wood Green CLP
Joanne Burnett
David N Berman
Joan Girling, Suffolk Coastal CLP
Mike Dolan, Weaver Vale CLP
Chris Billing, Totnes CLP
Ben Duncan-Duggal, Youth Officer, Knights Hill, Dulwich and West Norwood CLP
Brian Cantrill
Chris Jefferies
Gary Milne
Fran Springfield, Co-Chair Disability Labour, Vauxhall CLP
Susan Foreman
Pam Hunter, Sunderland Central CLP
Darran McLaughlin, Bristol West CLP
Peter Newby, Lewisham West and Penge CLP
Albert Owen Davies-Smith, St Albans CLP
Dominic Jackson, Bury North CLP
Michael Roberts, Blyth Valley CLP
Rosalynne Birch, Councillor, Oldham East and Saddleworth CLP
Chris Barker, Hornsey and Wood Green CLP
Melanie Crowley, Birmingham Hall Green CLP
Angela Thompson
Dr Pauline McGovern, Chorley CLP
Monica Threlfall, Holborn & St Pancras CLP
Tej Singh Bhandal, Ashley Political Education officer, Bristol West CLP
Paula Lewis, Preseli Pembrokeshire CLP
Alison Allan, Bristol West CLP
George Abramson, Keighley CLP
Helen Pickering, Leeds NW CLP
Kate Mortimer
Lesley Merchant
Chris Park
Chris Dommett
Mark Beckles Willson, Sheffield Hallam CLP
Dawn Renfrew, Dumfries and Galloway CLP
Rosemary Stammers
Patrick Blandford, Taunton Deane CLP
Roger Wells, Member of Co-operative Party
John Bainbridge
Mathew Hardy
Stephen Smith
Alison Smerdon
Kathleen Heywood, South Holland and Deeping CLP
Angie Smith, Sheffield Heeley CLP
Roland England, Chipping Barnet CLP
Pete Adams, Portsmouth South CLP
Romy Clark, Fleetwood and Lancaster CLP
Carol Westall, Hexham CLP
Janet Wise
Christine Stockton, Chester CLP
Ruth Fullam, Cardiff West CLP
Dave Lewis, Camberwell & Peckham CLP
Mike Vessey, Chelsea & Fulham CLP
Mike Bird, Secretary of Aberconwy CLP
Patrick Hannay, Editor Touchstone the Journal for Architecture in Wales
Kenneth Thompson, Rotherham CLP
Sandy Paul, EC member of Poplar and Limehouse CLP
Malcolm Askew
Pete Marsh
Jonathan Davidson, Birmingham Ladywood CLP
Roger Coates
Don Sanderson, Penrith and the Border CLP
Humphrey Woods
John Handford, Macclesfield CLP
Hong Luo, TSSA Delegate, York CLP
Martin Smith
Lynne Armstron, Women’s Officer, Bognor Regis & Littlehampton CLP
Margo Sheridan, Lewisham Deptford CLP
Stella East, Peacehaven CLP
Marc Mckiernan, Haltwhistle CLP
Ruth Milsom, Councillor, Sheffield Hallam CLP
Robert Francis Collis, Gedling CLP
Lizzy Cooper, Women’s Officer/Branch Chair, Aberconwy CLP
Tim McCann, Board Member, Final Say For All Foundation, Warrington South CLP
Ali Robinson
Tim Mohun, Islington North CLP
Dick Hunter, York Central CLP
Thomas Blomberg, Kensington CLP
Diana Urquhart, North East Hampshire CLP
Lucy Craig, Hornsey & Wood Green CLP
Nayra Bello Oshanahan, Hampstead and Kilburn
Teresa Young
Josephine Howard
Mary Wyatt, Membership Secretary, Suffolk Coastal CLP
David Otterspn, Stockton North CLP
Rachel Boulton, Hornsey and Wood Green CLP
Judith Tigerschiold, Norwich South CLP
Linda Goldsmith,
John Lipetz, Hampstead & Kilburn CLP
David Brough, Harrow East CLP
Janet Foy
Peter Brimson, Leyton and Wanstead CLP
Natacha Kennedy, Founder Member of Labour Trans Equality, Eltham CLP
Matt Ruane
Jan Fullforth
Katharine Sheehy Brade, Aberconwy CLP
Irena Paxton, Cardiff South and Penarth CLP
David Margolies, Branch environmental rep, Lewisham Deptford CLP
Geraldine Egan, Birmingham Edgbaston CLP
Robert Hughes, Burnley CLP
Adrian Finney, Southend East CLP
Lila Guha
Lorina Pilgrim, Brentford and Isleworth CLP
Claire McArthur
Andrew Blackburn
Emma Jones, Oxford West & Abingdon CLP
Shona Jemphrey, Bristol East CLP EC member
Les Ward
Julie Ball
Helen Bradford
John Garrett, Coventry South CLP
Jane Carey
John Logsdon, Manchester Withington CLP
James Mercer, South Dorset CLP
Sandra Stevens
David Coppard
Tony Papard
Kila Millidine, Preseli CLP
Sue Sparks
Stephen Tompsett, Winchester CLP
Jacqueline Lavelle, Montgomeryshire CLP
Robert Turner
Sandra Holvey
Stewart Eame
Kyle Bellamy, Edinburgh Northern and Leith CLP
Kirsten Downer, Lewisham Deptford CLP
Caroline Maughan, Enfield Southgate CLP
Pauline King, Buckingham CLP
Charlie Kiss, Poplar and Limehouse CLP
John Edwin Porter
Gabrielle Saunders
Mike Maughan, Enfield Southgate CLP
Deborah Lawrence-Wilson, Oxford West and Abingdon CLP
John Murray, Hornsey and Wood Green CLP
Emma Tristram
David Trevanion, S Norfolk CLP
Konnie Lloyd, Broxtowe CLP
Nicky Bashall, Colne Valley CLP
Dorothy Whittaker, Penistone and Upper Don CLP
Kathleen Parker
Glyn Hambrook, Harrogate & Knaresborough CLP
Liz Yorke
Clare Winstanley, Hornsey & Wood Green CLP
Steve Rouse, South Swindon CLP
Robert Dimmick, Reading East CLP
Andy Warren,. Lewisham Deptford CLP
Margaret Rogers
Cecilia Hall, S. Cambs. CLP
Iain Mentiply
David Jones
Peter Redfarn
William Wynn
Duncan Morrison, Lewisham NEU, Branch Secretary, Lewisham Deptford CLP
Dave Jones, Lichfield
Charlie Hore, UNISON steward
Cath Fletcher
Randy Banks, Labour Party Branch Secretary, Ealing Central and Acton CLP
Andy Wilson
Keith Reader, Islington North CLP
Hilda Palmer, Blackley and Broughton CLP
Kathleen Burley, Barnsley East CLP
Fran Zujans, Leamington CLP
James Jacobs , Broxtowe CLP
Paul McGivern, Hull West and Hessle CLP
Andy Cunningham, NEU South West Lancashire Assistant Secretary
Margaret Madterman, Secretary of Boston and Skegness CLP
Louise McIntosh, Bath CLP
Michael Farmer, Policy Officer of Cheltenham CLP
Dr J Wilkinson
Rosemary Challands, Montgomeryshire CLP
Sabine Ebert-Forbes, Keighley and Ilkley CLP
Irene Brennan, Wirral West CLP
Melvyn Jackson
Kate Hinton, Newcastle North CLP
Fraser Robertson
A Congreve
Colin Roth
Edna Mullen, Stoke-on-Trent South CLP
IreneNorman
Steve Raggett, Coseley East CLP
Daniel Key, Bristol East Labour Party
Teri Dale
Anthony Dale
Andrea Gilbert, Women’s Officer of Putney CLP
Stephen Armstrong, Retired Headteacher, Lewisham East CLP
Roy Mogdridge
Mary Clarke, Kingston upon Hull North CLP
Geoff Taylor, Guildford CLP
Carole Leathwood, Eastbourne CLP
Julie Harper, Stroud CLP
Julie Rowley, Sleaford and N Hykeham CLP
Ruth Klassen Green, Tottenham CLP
Maxey Pete Maxen
Susan Toft, Ealing Southall CLP
Jennifer Runham, Vice-Chair, Trumpington BLP, Cambridge CLP
David Eatock, Altrincham & Sale West CLP
Olivia Ouwehand, Unite NW389 Equalities Rep
Jason Travis
John Page, Hertford and Stortford CLP
Edward mc Williams
John Shore, Bethnal Green and Bow CLP
Christine Oestreicher, Haringey
Celia Stephenson-Bird
Janis Beavon, Bristol South CLP
Susan Pashkoff, Women’s Officer and Chair Women’s Branch of Leyton and Wanstead CLP
Gordon Brown, South Shields CLP
Cat Villiers, Chelsea, Hamersmith & Fulham CLP
Rowena Foote
Frances Alexander
David Renton, Barrister, Garden Court chambers
Ron Smith
Christiane Eck , Walthamstow CLP
Maciej Psyk, European Movement in Wandsworth and Morden
Jess Achilleos, Wirral South CLP
Penelope Rose Sharples
Tim Harris, Executive Committee member, Leyton and Wanstead CLP
Dermot O’Hara
Anna Lyon, Winchester CLP
Carol Law
Julian Wilson, CLP Chair in Tonbridge and Malling
Dave Burn, Finchley and Golders Green CLP
Walter Riley, Chester CLP
Stephen Collingwood, Croydon Central CLP
Robert Carter
Carole Vincent , Leyton & Wanstead CL
Chris Jones, Wyre Forest CLP
Joseph Healy, UNITE National LGBT+ Committee
Beki Moon
Clare Speedie, Stirling CLP
Brenda Coulson, Wigan Central CLP
Leila Kozma
Penny Mitchell, Wavertree CLP
Terry Walker, Brighton Pavilion CLP
Sarah Dutton, Tewkesbury CLP
Seán Orr, Leyton and Wanstead CLP
Jon Johnson, Lewisham Deptford CLP
Lorraine Hardy, Labour International CLP
Natalie Sedacca, Islington South & Finsbury CLP
Jo Archer
David Gore, Lewisham Deptford CLP
Gillian S Nobbs
Anthony Stapleton, Edmonton CLP
Margaret Manning, Unite Member
Susan Dorrel, Tottenham CLP
Victoria Fisher, North Swindon CLP
Frankie Elen, Wells CLP
Tony Byrnes, Walthamstow CLP
Renate Aspden
David Blackman, Oxford East CLP
John Boarder, Rhyl, Clwyd
John Baker-Rabe
Sue Vaughan, South Norfolk CLP
James Roberts, Harrogate & Knaresborough CLP
Julia Marsh
Sari Cantrill
Linda Roff
Martha Young, West Oxford and Abingdon CLP
Mrs Carol Milnes, Coventry North West CLP
Allison Drew
Niccolo Milanese, European Alternatives, International
Jennie Turner, Lewisham West & Penge CLP
Hilary Wilkey
Simon Rowling
Caroline Pike
Mike Bird, Vice-chair Unite Branch NW389
Sue Underwood, Chippenham CLP
Barbara Callender, Chairperson, European Movement in Wandsworth and Merton, Battersea CLP
Michael Dyer-Evans
Susan Christian, Oswestry CLP
Derek Fraser, NEU school Rep
Hilary Lewis, Bristol South CLP
Patrick Wood, Richmond Park CLP
Sally Gilmour
Jim Jepps
Alan Crawshaw
Graham Martin, York CLP
Megan Eden Coyne, Bolton CLP
Lindsey Iqbal
Dr Sam Hollings, North Swindon CLP
Julia Reason
John Chowcat, Folkestone and Hythe CLP
Sara Turner, Battersea CLP
Sarah Lasenby, Oxford East
Hazel Chowcat, Folkestone & Hythe CLP
Mike O’Neill, Abingdon & West Oxford CLP
Richard Robinson, Bracknell CLP
Jenny Purkis
27th June 2021