TENS of thousands of people across the UK took a stand for EU nationals to highlight their value ahead of Brexit.
One Day Without Us, which celebrated the contribution made by EU nationals to the UK, included a labour boycott to emphasise their economic impact, as well as a mass lobby of the Westminster parliament.
People took to the streets in cities including Glasgow, Cardiff and Manchester to show solidarity with those whose future here is now threatened by Brexit.
An estimated 3.3 million people are affected and earlier this month Tory MPs rejected an amendment to the Brexit Bill which would have guaranteed their residency status.
Yesterday around 50 MPs agreed to meet with an estimated 1,000 EU citizens in the House of Commons as they called for assurances over their continued right to live and work here after the UK withdraws from the European Union. Those taking part included Green party leader Caroline Lucas, Labour’s Keir Starmer, Tory Philip Davies and the SNP’s Joanna Cherry QC.
Ahead of the event, she said: “It is unacceptable that almost nine months since the EU referendum Tory ministers continue to leave these families in limbo by treating them as bargaining chips.
“The UK government has the power to end the damaging uncertainty that it has created and it must do so by providing a firm guarantee now.”
Universities, trade unions and art galleries also backed the push, which was supported by the Unison union. Some businesses shut up shop to prove that they could not cope without staff from other countries, while other groups, including the Centre for Nordic Studies staff at the University of the Highlands and Islands, posted photographs of their teams online to show what removing EU colleagues would cost them.
In Scotland’s biggest city, placard-carrying protesters gathered in George Square to demonstrate their opposition to Tory plans, with around 181,000 EU nationals living north of the Border. In Edinburgh, the activity centred around The Mound, where a candlelit gathering followed speakers.
German citizen Uta Rosenbrock closed her Edinburgh jewellers Uta’s Joolz for the day, saying: “I have taken pride in being part of a vibrant, multicultural community in Edinburgh. Never have I questioned my right to be here, all my adult and working life has been in Scotland. Now all of that is in question.”
Research by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) suggests the UK economy would suffer a £328m loss if all migrant workers downed tools for a single day.
It also said institutions like the health service, which employs large numbers of immigrants, would be “unable to function”.
According to the NEF, almost 11 per cent of the overall workforce have come from other countries, with the cleaning and food preparation sectors particularly dependent on staff from overseas.
NEF chief executive Marc Stears said: “Britain has a long and proud tradition of openness to people from overseas and our research conclusively shows that migrants have more than repaid for the welcome they have received.
“Our future as a country depends on the economic, cultural and social contribution that migrants make. As countries all around the world succumb to the siren call of populism, we need to remember that contribution and to celebrate it.”
Rachel Taylor-Beales, one of the organisers of 1 Day without Us, said the event was “about celebrating the many diverse ways in which migrants have contributed to Britain”.
She added: “These extend well beyond the economy. But it is striking to see just how much migrants do add to economic output in a single day and what this country would lose if they weren’t here.”
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