Londoners should be allowed to keep EU citizenship, insists Sadiq Khan
Londoners who are unhappy about Brexit should be allowed to have an ‘associate citizenship’ for the EU, insists Sadiq Khan.
The Mayor of London said he is ‘heartbroken’ over Brexit and will discuss the idea of giving Britons the option of retaining their citizenship with EU officials in Brussels on Tuesday. This would allow many to keep the rights they held before Brexit, including the ability to move freely between EU member states if they wish to.
Such a move could also protect the healthcare, welfare and workplace conditions of Britons living in a member state and may allow the option of voting in the European parliament elections.
He tweeted on Tuesday morning: ‘It’s no secret that I wanted to remain in the EU, but I’m determined to ensure London thrives despite Brexit.
‘I’m in Brussels today meeting senior EU leaders to fight for a deal that not only protects London’s economy, but the rights of all Londoners too. #LondonIsOpen’
Mr Khan will meet the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, and the president of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, during today’s visit to the Belgium capital.
However, questions have been raised over how successful talks will be as the proposal would be considered unlawful under EU legislation, now the UK has left and entered a transition period.
Mr Khan said: ‘Like so many Londoners, I am heartbroken that we are no longer a member of the European Union, but that doesn’t mean our country’s future can’t be closely linked with the rest of Europe.
‘The Prime Minister says his job is to bring the country together and move us forward and I cannot think of a better way of reconciling the differences between British voters who wanted to leave, and the millions of Londoners and British nationals who still feel and want to be European.
‘There would be support from millions of Londoners and British nationals who are devastated they are losing their rights as EU citizens.
‘As the UK and EU start their next phase of negotiations, I want this issue of associate citizenship to be at the heart of talks about our future relationship.’
The idea of European citizenship has been backed by the former chairman of the European Parliament’s Brexit steering group, Guy Verhofstadt.
Such a move could also protect the healthcare, welfare and workplace conditions of Britons living in a member state and may allow the option of voting in the European parliament elections.
He tweeted on Tuesday morning: ‘It’s no secret that I wanted to remain in the EU, but I’m determined to ensure London thrives despite Brexit.
‘I’m in Brussels today meeting senior EU leaders to fight for a deal that not only protects London’s economy, but the rights of all Londoners too. #LondonIsOpen’
Mr Khan will meet the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, and the president of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, during today’s visit to the Belgium capital.
However, questions have been raised over how successful talks will be as the proposal would be considered unlawful under EU legislation, now the UK has left and entered a transition period.
Mr Khan said: ‘Like so many Londoners, I am heartbroken that we are no longer a member of the European Union, but that doesn’t mean our country’s future can’t be closely linked with the rest of Europe.
‘The Prime Minister says his job is to bring the country together and move us forward and I cannot think of a better way of reconciling the differences between British voters who wanted to leave, and the millions of Londoners and British nationals who still feel and want to be European.
‘There would be support from millions of Londoners and British nationals who are devastated they are losing their rights as EU citizens.
‘As the UK and EU start their next phase of negotiations, I want this issue of associate citizenship to be at the heart of talks about our future relationship.’
The idea of European citizenship has been backed by the former chairman of the European Parliament’s Brexit steering group, Guy Verhofstadt.