Lib Dems: Anne Milton MP has betrayed EU nationals in Guildford
As the Queen today signs in to law the bill enabling the Prime Minister to begin the Brexit process Guildford Liberal Democrats have criticised Anne Milton MP for her vote on Monday night against the right of thousands of EU nationals in Guildford to stay.
Zöe Franklin, Guildford's Liberal Democrat Spokesperson, commented:
"On this historic occasion, Anne Milton has chosen to ignore the expressed wishes of Guildford residents who voted 57% in favour of remaining in the EU and instead support a hard Brexit and vote against giving EU nationals living here the right to stay.
"This is a betrayal of the thousands of people from the EU in Guildford as well as their families, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
"The hundreds of local nurses, doctors and other NHS staff from the EU are already worried about their futures here, this vote sends them completely the wrong signal at a time when our NHS is already facing huge pressures.
"This shows you can't have a hard Brexit and a strong NHS.
"At a time when Guildford needs its MP to take a strong stand on their behalf she has let them down. Unlike our MP, I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues will keep fighting to give EU nationals living in Guildford the certainty they deserve and to stand up against a damaging hard Brexit."
Note: Information available indicates that there are at least 6,258 residents from elsewhere in the EU living in Guildford. This includes 307 people from the EU who are working at the Royal Surrey County Hospital including 46 doctors, 147 nurses and 144 other staff. It also includes many of the 207 staff From the EU who are working for Surrey & Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust who provide specialist mental health, drug and alcohol, learning disability services across southern England.