The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 preserved a number of EU laws in UK statute as Retained EU Law (REUL). The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill (REUL Bill) was introduced to amend, remove and replace the REULs that the UK government deemed to be unsuitable and replace them with bespoke UK provisions. The … Continue reading
The UK Home Office announced over the weekend that it will be introducing a visa route (amongst implementing other measures) to help ease the current shortage of HGV drivers. With full details yet to be confirmed, the announcement indicates that up to 5,000 HGV drivers (together with up to 5,500 poultry workers) will be able … Continue reading
At 11pm on December 31, 2020, the Brexit implementation period ended and the last-minute trade deal agreed by UK and EU negotiators took effect through the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). What does this mean for UK pensions and what steps should employers and trustees be taking? What is the impact on UK pensions … Continue reading
On 31 December the UK parliament implemented the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020. This makes provision to implement into UK law the three main future relationship agreements with the EU including the EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). What does the TCA mean for employment and immigration law? Employment A significant portion of UK … Continue reading
A frontier worker is an EU, EEA or Swiss national, who is economically active in the UK (through employment or self-employment) but resides outside the UK. Under the EEA right of freedom of movement, such nationals are currently free to travel and work in all EEA countries. However as freedom of movement comes to an … Continue reading
On 13 July 2020, the Home Office published further details on how the UK’s points-based immigration system will work from 1 January 2021. As set out in the Policy Statement published in February, anyone coming to the UK for work, including EU citizens, will need to demonstrate they meet a specific set of requirements for … Continue reading
On 19 February 2020 the UK Government published its policy statement setting out its proposals for a new points-based immigration system. Following the UK’s exit from the EU, free movement of workers will cease and all EU and non-EU citizens will be treated equally from 1 January 2021. The Government will introduce a new immigration … Continue reading
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published its widely anticipated report on 28 January 2020, setting out its recommendations for a new UK immigration system to be launched in time for the end of free movement of people on 31 December 2020. The Government will be considering the recommendations in the context of its Immigration Bill, expected … Continue reading
The UK Government’s announcement, that free movement will end the day after a no deal Brexit on 31 October 2019, has left many wondering how the rights of EU citizens will be impacted in the days that follow. Whilst some have speculated that it is unlikely that this means anything different than the original ‘no … Continue reading
One of the many outstanding issues for immigration lawyers was how EU citizens would be able to enter the UK after 29 March 2019 in the event of a “no deal” scenario. Whilst a new immigration system is due to come into force in 2021, the situation remained unclear as to what would happen to … Continue reading
The EU Settlement Scheme, which processes applications of EU citizens living in the UK to allow them to remain in the UK after Brexit, has gone live. From 21 January 2019 a public test phase will run for individuals who are resident EU citizens (with a valid EU passport) or non-EU citizen family members of … Continue reading
The UK Government has now published the White Paper on the future immigration system for the UK after it leaves the EU. It has confirmed, following many of the recommendations by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), that it will adopt a new single skills-based immigration system from 1 January 2021. The new system will put … Continue reading
Another interesting and unforeseen consequence of Brexit is the power struggle that has been triggered between the Premier League and the FA in relation to post Brexit quotas for “home grown” players and the visa requirements for overseas players. The FA is seeking to use Brexit as an opportunity to boost the longer term health … Continue reading
As reported on the blog last year, the result of the EU referendum in the UK on 23 June 2016 was that the UK should leave the EU. Since then, formal notice of withdrawal was served on 29 March 2017 which means that the UK’s exit from the EU will take place once agreement is … Continue reading
Until the UK withdraws from the EU, EU law will continue to apply in the UK and so the rights of EU citizens and their family members to live and work in the UK remain unchanged. However, after Brexit, free movement rights will come to an end. On 26 June 2017 Theresa May briefed MPs … Continue reading
On 10 November 2016, the UK Parliament published a Briefing Paper setting out the Government’s position in relation to employment rights of workers following the UK’s exit from the EU. Whilst the Government may believe that the Briefing Paper clearly sets out its position, on closer analysis it seems to raise more questions than it … Continue reading
On 23 June 2016, voters in the UK referendum chose to leave the European Union. Exit from the EU will require the government to make a formal application under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This provides for a period of negotiation of up to two years (which can be extended if agreed). … Continue reading