EU citizens settlement scheme could be the new Windrush scandal, warns MPs

The Windrush scandal is set to be repeated with EU nationals applying to stay in the UK after Brexit, a group of MPs have warned.

The Home Affairs select committee claims large numbers of citizens are at risk of losing their residency rights as they are not aware they need to apply to remain once the UK leaves the EU.

EU nationals will only have the legal right to stay in the UK after Brexit if they apply through the Settlement Scheme – launched on March 30.

Concerns have been raised the government will not be able to process an estimated three million applications before the scheme ends on 30 June 2021.

After an inquiry into the scheme, the Home Affairs committee called on the government to enshrine EU citizens rights in law, with the Settlement Scheme acting as a means for people to get proof they can stay UK – rather than a time-limited opportunity to apply for such rights.

Labour’s Yvette Cooper, chair of the committee, said: “The problems faced by the Windrush generation showed how easily individuals can fall through gaps in the system through no fault of their own and how easily lives can be destroyed if the Government gets this wrong.

“Too many people could be missed out under the current plans for the Settlement Scheme arrangements – including children or the elderly who have lived here many years.”

The Home Office hit back at the criticisms of the scheme, with a spokesperson saying it had already processed “hundreds of thousands” of applications.

They added: “We have taken great care to learn from the experience of the Windrush generation.

"It’s part of the reason why there are 200 assisted digital locations across the UK to help EU citizens apply, dedicated staff in our Settlement Resolution Centre and £9m available for 57 organisations across the UK to support an estimated 200,000 vulnerable people to apply.”