EU citizens living in Wales should not be used as negotiating chips – Plaid Cymru

Mid and West AM Simon Thomas has sent a clear message to the Westminster government that people living in Wales from other EU member states should not be used as chess pieces during the negotiations to remove the UK from the European Union.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond backed comments by Tory leadership contender Theresa May refusing to rule out deportation of EU nationals living in the UK.

Mr Hammond said to fully guarantee EU citizens’ rights to remain in the UK, without commitments from other countries towards Britons abroad, now risked “selling our people out too cheap”.

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member Simon Thomas asked an urgent question in the National Assembly for a statement on the Welsh Government’s position.

Simon Thomas, Mid and West AM said:

“People living in Wales from other European Union member states should not be used as chess pieces or bargaining chips during the negotiations to exit the European Union.

“I chaired a meeting with Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood in the Morlan centre in Aberystwyth to discuss the way forward for Wales. We listened to concerns from constituents who have EU family members in Ceredigion and are very worried about their future.

“It is disgraceful that people contributing to modern Wales are not being given the respect they deserve.

“A spokesperson for Conservative leadership candidate Theresa May has said we don’t want to give our negotiating position away at the start this will impact on the 67,000 people living in Wales who have another EU nationality, 500 working in the Welsh NHS.

“It is shameful they are being used as pawns during the internal election for the leadership of the Conservative party.

“These messages raises uncertainty for their future status living and contributing to Wales. Plaid Cymru wants to send a message that they are welcome here and should continue to live here without fear.

“In Aberystwyth over the weekend there was a rally in support of people – migrants and refugees that have come to Wales. The attacks we have seen on people following the referendum result are appalling.

“I’m was pleased recently to visit the Polish Welsh Mutual Association in Llanelli with the First Minister to give my support to the Polish community in the town. It is important we point out that these attacks will not be tolerated.”

The Welsh Government has written to the Home Secretary Theresa May to make their views known. The First Minister said it was unacceptable to threaten the status of EU citizens living in the UK.

The current estimate is there are 67,000 people living in Wales who have another EU nationality, and 80,000 who were born elsewhere in the EU.

In terms of non-EU immigration, there are about 52,000 non-EU nationals living in Wales, and 100,000 born outside of the EU.