Joe Duggan (Reporter)
THOUSANDS of UK-based Spaniards could be stripped of their employment rights in the event of a Brexit.
The bombshell comes as the IMF warned last night that a Brexit risked causing ‘severe global economic damage’.
The 200,000 Spaniards in the UK could lose free access to the NHS, their social security benefits and require work visas if Britain leaves.
It would likely lead to further ramifications for expats the other way.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond admitted Britain may have to introduce a quota system if we leave and the Spaniards’ future in the UK would be ‘up in the air’.
Spain’s foreign secretary José Manuel García-Margallo has already voiced fears about what may happen to Spaniards in the UK, 50,000 of whom arrived last year alone.
He said that leaving might also mean shutting the border with Gibraltar.
World leaders including Barack Obama are urging the UK to vote to stay in the EU.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Airbus Group has warned its 15,000 employees about the dangers of a Brexit vote. “We do not believe leaving will increase the competitiveness of our British-based operations,” a letter insisted.
“THOUSANDS of UK-based Spaniards could be stripped of their employment rights in the event of a Brexit”. Not only the Spanish but the employment of 27 other EU member states. Not forgetting the fishing rights and all other rights that were democratically taken.
Hello EU, wake up.
The little EU experiment has failed time for everyone to return from whence they came and maybe change their countries of origin for the better.
Marc – a good comment.
If the Spanish in England are working they will be Paying Social Sercurity in England so will not have to rely on the Spanish govenment to pick the tab up, which is basically the same the world over. IMF is just scaremongering, being based in America you would not expect anything less from that shower, IMF is quick to mouth off about affairs that don’t concern them but are very slow to help Greece out unless the EU reduce their debt.
If you want your country asset stripped in double quick time – invite the IMF in.