Conservative MPs have betrayed EU nationals in Basingstoke

The Liberal Democrats have criticised Conservative MPs for voting against the right of thousands of EU nationals in Basingstoke to stay in the UK, as a majority of MPs gave the final go-ahead to a hard Brexit.

There are 5,184 residents from elsewhere in the EU living in Basingstoke.

There are 343 staff from other EU countries working for the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (that covers Basingstoke) including 65 doctors and 92 nurses.

MPs overturned amendments backed by the Liberal Democrats to give Parliament a vote on the terms of the deal and to guarantee the right of EU nationals to stay after Brexit.

Lib Dem Councillor Gavin James commented:

"On this historic occasion, Conservative MPs have chosen to support a hard Brexit and to vote against giving EU nationals living here the right to stay."

"This is a betrayal of the hundreds of people from the EU in Basingstoke as well as their friends, colleagues and neighbours."

"The dozens of local nurses and doctors from the EU are already worried about their futures here, this vote sends them completely the wrong signal at a time when our NHS is already facing huge pressures."

"This shows you can't have a hard Brexit and a strong NHS."

"Unlike Conservative MPs, the Liberal Democrats will keep fighting to give EU nationals living in Basingstoke the certainty they deserve and to stand up against a damaging hard Brexit."