Reading the replies to this tweet shows the damage done by bad journalism over the past days. 🧵
1) we do not call ourselves 'expats', that is a loaded term designed to divide us from EU citizens in the UK. We refer to ourselves as British nationals living in the EU/EEA/CH...
1) we do not call ourselves 'expats', that is a loaded term designed to divide us from EU citizens in the UK. We refer to ourselves as British nationals living in the EU/EEA/CH...
https://twitter.com/JeremyVineOn5/status/1379505937887547392
which is commonly shortened to UKinEU.
2) There are two groups of people:
a) those who were legally resident before the end of 2020 and are covered by the WA
b) those that weren't and aren't covered. There are many reasons for why they have chosen not to apply for residency
2) There are two groups of people:
a) those who were legally resident before the end of 2020 and are covered by the WA
b) those that weren't and aren't covered. There are many reasons for why they have chosen not to apply for residency
ranging from visitors staying a few weeks or longer to those who are/were attempting to live under the radar.
3) Under Schengen rules, Brits like other Third Country Nationals (TCNs) can only spend 90 of any 180 days in Schengen.
3) Under Schengen rules, Brits like other Third Country Nationals (TCNs) can only spend 90 of any 180 days in Schengen.
Being generous and suggesting that the Brits in group b) arrived on 31 Dec 2020 means that they needed to leave the Schengen zone by the 31st March, when the misinformed articles began.
This is not down to lack of income...
This is not down to lack of income...
or refusal of healthcare - in the vast majority of cases it is
i) because their residency is elsewhere so they are visitors, or
ii) they chose not to apply.
It is not the EU being mean, nor is it UKinEU being too late, too underprepared, too disorganised to apply.
i) because their residency is elsewhere so they are visitors, or
ii) they chose not to apply.
It is not the EU being mean, nor is it UKinEU being too late, too underprepared, too disorganised to apply.
To conflate these two groups is to do a disservice to the many UKinEU who are legally resident and doing their best to adapt to circumstances that the majority had no say in. 60% of us do not have a vote.
To make sweeping generalisations about age groups, language abilities, voting intentions etc. is just playing into stereotypes. 80% of us are working age and under and those of us who are retired have every right to be here and broke no laws becoming legally resident here.
But all is not rosy. Given covid, countries are struggling to free resource and systems to process applications (where they are needed). Older computer systems struggle with a new class of residents who are neither EU citizens or third country nationals (TCNs) but are 'TCN WA'.
This is bringing stress and disruption to the lives of the individuals it affects and we need to shine a light on these challenges to get them fixed as quickly as possible. We need to ensure that every admin clerk in every town understands our rights so healthcare / benefits /
uni grants etc are not stopped or jobs refused for something that we do not need to have or cannot provide.
We live across 27 different countries, each with its different processes and systems. It is highly complex.
We live across 27 different countries, each with its different processes and systems. It is highly complex.
So we ask simply that journalists and presenters do their jobs right and CHECK their facts before trying to create division. We understand that some want the divide and will make up the stories so we can't stop them. We can only ask that you don't share them.
Thank you.
Thank you.
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