Prime Minister Theresa May lays out the government's 12 priorities for negotiating the UK's exit from the European Union on 17 January 2017. Jay Allen/Number 10/Flickr. (CC 2.0 by-nc-nd)
The prevailing interpretation of the Brexit referendum result has been that it was a vote to take back control of immigration and, in conjunction with the Conservative party’s manifesto pledge to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands, to ultimately reduce the number of EU nationals moving to the UK.
One of the most pressing issues for EU nationals in the UK has been securing their rights and legal status, with some opting to apply for permanent residence. High profile cases such as Monique Hawkins have demonstrated the inherent difficulties which the UK faces post-Brexit in processing applications for permanent residence from EU nationals. The government appears to prioritise immigration control over unfettered access to the single market, and the recent white paper acknowledged the need to create new immigration laws with the focus being predominantly on ending the free movement of people and reducing net migration.
