The European Union has sparked fury this afternoon as the Commission announced plans to sue the UK over freedom of movement.
In a statement, the EU said it would be taking the UK to the bloc’s most senior court over allegations the British government limited the rights of EU citizens and their families to live and work here.
The European Commission said today that Britain has ignored a number of warnings for violating EU law on freedom of movement since Boris Johnson exited the EU at the end of 2020.
They claim that the failures by Britain “continue to affect EU citizens”.
In a statement the Commission said: “After carefully assessing the replies of the United Kingdom, the commission maintains that several elements of the grievances remain unaddressed, including on the rights of workers and the rights of extended family members.”
A spokesman for Keir Starmer insisted that the cases relate to “issues from when the U.K. was an EU member state and during the transition period”, before the two bodies signed a mutual trade deal in 2021.
They added: “We remain focused on working to reset our relationship with the EU and to make Brexit work for the British people.”
However Dame Priti Patel, the Conservatives’ shadow Foreign Secretary, demanded that Sir Keir Starmer accept the legal action as proof that the EU want to extend its control over Britain.
In a brutal statement, Dame Priti blasted: “The EU’s enthusiasm to continue to take proceedings against us in the ECJ should be a warning to Keir Starmer as he tries to edge us back under its jurisdiction in more areas and extend mobility rights for EU citizens.
“I hope the government will strongly defend this claim.
“Labour will surrender our sovereignty and instead of focusing on securing growth through a competitive domestic economy and global trade, they want to tie our hands up in the EU.
“At a time when Government should be making savings, it’s outrageous that they are blowing taxpayers’ cash recruiting to new roles designed to facilitate closer integration with the EU.”
Last month, the UK’s Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA) raised concerns with the Home Office about the so-called “certificate of application”, a form of evidence EU citizens can use to prove to employers, landlords and others that they have a right to be in the country.
The move comes just two months before Sir Keir will fly to Brussels for a major EU summit with the Commission and all member states – the first since Britain left the bloc.
While the EU is pushing for better fishing boat access to British waters, and a new youth mobility scheme, Sir Keir is insisting he will not barter away the main benefits of Brexit, including not rejoining the Single Market, Customs Union or Freedom of Movement.
