In all the turmoil around Brexit about economics and freedom of movement, there is a gaping hole in the debate. Perhaps had it been raised earlier, we would not be in the position that we are now.
My parents’ and grandparents’ generations became EU citizens. They lived in a pre-EU world, they know that life will go on (though in what guise, who can say) because it existed before. Perhaps for them, for Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, shrugging off the cloak of Europe will not be too onerous. Inconvenient, of course. Expensive, no doubt. But manageable.
I did not “become” an EU citizen. I was born one. It is not a cloak, it is my skin. Those 12 stars have been on my passport for as long as the lion and the unicorn. I was brought up as part of something bigger, a major peace project that, although bureaucratic, represented unity and solidarity. I consider myself a European first, a Brit second. Theresa May’s “hard Brexit” will rob a generation of a fundamental part of their identity, and let’s not forget there is a generation below us who also hold this identity and were not consulted in the decision over their future. I will certainly be bringing up my children in a European spirit, even if not with European passports.
We need more than trade agreements to keep that identity in place. We have seen countless times the resentment caused by the denial of people’s identities. Nobody is thinking about the future impact of a raging generation whose politicians have let them down over and over again, then stolen a fundamental part of their existence. How will we be compensated for this? What will replace it? Faith in “Great” Britain? I’m no patriot – I need more, something bigger. We need promises of more than trade, we need promises of unity and friendship – and concrete actions on how this will be achieved.
Philippa Watts
London
• In a previous letter (6 January) I expressed my unease about the experience of fellow EU citizen Monique Hawkins, whose application for a document certifying permanent residence was rejected by the Home Office although it was in line with the rules. I am a German national living in UK for the past 16 years and I also submitted an application for the same document. I promised to let you know how I get on. My application has been successful. I would like to encourage other EU citizens to seek advice from an immigration expert before submitting theirs. It was time and money well spent. I feel relieved and grateful that I can now apply for citizenship which – if successful – will ensure that my British husband and I can to carry on with the life we have built. And I keep my fingers crossed for all those EU nationals who are on a similar journey.
Regina Erich
Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
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