Thread by @mikegoulden

This is my mum, she’s 83 and has got dementia. She met my dad in 1962 when she worked for the British Army as a translator. My dad was in the Royal Artillery. They moved back to England in late 1962 and got married. My sister was born in 1963 and I was born in 1966. She worked

from the moment she arrived. She had always wanted to be a teacher so she got her teaching qualification whilst working and bringing up my sister and I. She established herself as a well known teacher in adult education teaching German and German literature across schools

colleges and the University of Liverpool. She took multiple groups of students to Germany on exchange visits, sharing her love of the German language and culture to as many people as possible. She is a published poet, having 2 anthologies under the pseudonym Alfa. She has written

a novel “Susato” about Nazi Germany and she wrote a series of workbooks in German grammar for O and A level. She has a Bachelor and Masters degree which she funded herself. She has been called a Nazi, a Kraut, a Jew murderer by people in the street. Not once, ever, did she

retaliate. She adores the Queen and treasures a thank you letter from her after my mum gave her a copy of her novel at a meeting of The Society of Women Writers and Journalist, of which she is a long-standing member. She loves this country and has contributed much to its life.

Today, I had to fill out an application to apply for her to have settled status. I was reluctant but realised that we could risk her becoming an “illegal immigrant”. She has no understanding of this process because of her dementia. As part of the application I submitted her

passport but that wasn’t enough. Oh no, I had to scan her face from side to side like an inmate in a concentration camp and then take the picture shown above. She became increasingly upset, “just tell the government I’ve been here for years and that I’m German” I was crying

on the inside. The rest of the application form was quite tricky with multiple verification codes and I doubt my mum, without dementia, would ever have completed it. It was undignified, intrusive and cruel. For those of you who voted for Brexit, is this what you wanted? If it is

you should be utterly ashamed of yourselves. A Britain that was once tolerant, generous and welcoming has now morphed into a tinpot, cruel, xenophobic 3rd rate country under the monstrous government we now have. My mum has contributed so much to this country and this process is

an insult to her and millions like her. When you vote for a cruel and divisive government like this one, be aware the you too are responsible for the unnecessary cruelty inflicted on my mum today and many more like her. You are responsible. Shove your settled status where the

sun don’t shine and throw your insane Brexit in the fires 🔥 of Hell where it belongs. Not moving on, never moving on! Is that clear? #SettledStatus #SettlementScheme

To everyone who has read my thread, shared it, commented on it I’d like to say a massive Thank You! The number of really lovely, kind messages has been overwhelming. My Mum and Dad are extremely grateful. I’ll try and read everyone’s comments, there’s lots! #SettledStatus

Mum in her younger days, and Mum and Dad’s wedding day! #SettledStatus