NICOLA Sturgeon reached out to European Union nationals living in Scotland yesterday telling them “you are human beings, not bargaining chips” after they described their fears over their futures to her after the Brexit vote.

Speaking to an audience from more than 30 countries, including 24 EU nations, the First Minister said the question mark hanging over their status struck “at the heart of humanity”.

Sturgeon chose to consider all options after vote for Brexit

Condemning the Conservative Government’s refusal to give assurances to them, she said: “Out of a situation which has so many upsetting aspects this is the one that strikes at the heart of humanity...People living here and trying to get on with their lives here face a question mark over their future and the UK Government could end this uncertainty today if it chose to.

“Perhaps if we can do one thing together is for all of us here today to send a clear message to the UK Government to ‘end this uncertainty..do the humane thing and give people the right to make a contribution to our country that they have made for so long.”

Around three million EU citizens live in the UK, including 173,000 in Scotland. But despite having a profound impact on their lives none were allowed to vote in the EU referendum.

The UK Government has said it “fully expects” that the legal status of EU nationals living in the UK, and of UK nationals in EU member states, will be “properly protected” after Brexit.

However, it has not ruled out deportations and ministers have said it would be “unwise” to fully “guarantee” EU citizens’ rights without a deal for Britons abroad being in place.

During the 90 minute session at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh dozens of EU nationals told the First Minister and her cabinet of their shock over the referendum result, narrowly won by the Leave campaign, though Scotland voted by 62 per cent to remain.

One man told of concerns about whether he would be able to get a job because employers could think he might have to leave Scotland, while others spoke of how Brexit would impact negatively on their businesses heavily dependent on the single market and EU membership.

At times audience members were close to tears.

Caroline Magoha, an Italian woman who has lived in Scotland for 13 years, spoke of uncertainty over her 13-year-old son’s education, adding that he had been bullied at school in the build-up to the EU referendum.

She urged politicians not to make EU nationals from the UK the new “refugees of Europe”. She added: “We have to live with our bags half-packed, our feet halfway out of the door. I don’t have any trust whatsoever in the Westminster Government. They will wake up one day and say Article 50, EU members, you have to be out within six months. They are capable of that. It is inhumane. It is against the basic human rights of children.

Brexit is ruining the future of Scottish children.”

Sturgeon responded: “It really breaks my heart that as First Minster, as the elected leader of this country, I am not able to sit here and give you the guarantees and the certainty that you want.”

She added: “I think it is unthinkable that people living here would be asked to leave. I think the uproar that that would cause, rightly, would be immense.

“But the fact remains that until that commitment is given, people are going to worry and have that uncertainty.”

A UK Government spokesman said: “The Prime Minister has been clear that she wants to protect the status of EU nationals already living here and the only circumstances in which that wouldn’t be possible is if British citizens’ rights in European member states were not protected in return.

“We are consulting with businesses and other stakeholders across Scotland about the impact of leaving the EU. Those discussions are covering a range of issues, including freedom of movement.”

‘I am now 100% Yes’ – EU nationals are rethinking independence stance

ONE person after another said they would be switching their vote to Yes in a second independence referendum after being let down by the result of the September 2014 ballot.

Friends Elena Santos, Marja Varo and Daniel Bandres, from Spain, all voted No in September 2014, but said they now “most definitely” supported Scotland becoming an independent country inside the European Union. They were angered after being told during the independence referendum campaign that only a No vote would guarantee Scotland’s place in Europe.

“I voted No because I thought Scotland would be better off in both the UK and the EU, but if there is another referendum on Scottish independence I will vote Yes,” said Santos, an accountant originally from Seville, but now living in Glasgow. Alicante-born Varo, who has lived and worked in Glasgow for ten years, added: “I am now 100 per cent Yes.”

Bandres, a tax advisor, originally from Zaragoza, but now living in Ayr, said he was deeply disappointed by the EU referendum result.

“I voted No, but I will vote Yes next time.”

The same sentiments were shared by a group of Polish friends at the event in Edinburgh yesterday.

Kasia Kokowska, 39, Paulina Trevena, 43, both voted No in 2014 but said they would vote Yes next time, while Barbara Wesolowska, 32, who voted Yes in 2014 said her pro-independence views had been strengthened by the Brexit result.

Danes Thomas Widmann, 34, and Kanna Westermann, told The National of their fears for the future. Both voted Yes in the independence referendum and are anxious that under Brexit their Scottish partners would not be allowed to live in Denmark if they are forced to return.

“We are both worried that because we met our partners here, they might not be accepted into Denmark if we leave the UK. I may have to go to Denmark on my own without my partner and two children. My wife is having sleepless nights about it,” said Widmann who runs a translating business.

“I wouldn’t have moved here if it had not been for the EU. I saw a job advertised while I was in Denmark applied and got it,” he said. Westermann, a textile designer, added: “I was in shock after the EU vote. I didn’t think it would happen.”