Letters: Sensationalist spin is not helpful to EU nationals

The populist slant of the articles has resulted in a backlash from fellow independence supporters, believing our group and other EU nationals facing these issues to be petulant and selfish; we could not be further from either. Our interviews were given in good faith, with the aim of expressing the precarious situation we are in.

While the headlines allude to a demand for a new indyref, what we actually spoke of was the need for clarity. We spoke of the weight of the uncertainty of the last two-and-a-half years taking such a toll, of the risk to our rights posed by any flavour of Brexit, and that yes, sadly we were now considering the heartbreaking possibility of leaving.

We detailed some of the attacks on our rights as a result of Brexit, making it difficult for many of us to stay, but we find the articles fail to sufficiently detail issues we face, such as the myth that Settled Status means we can all stay; the right to apply does not guarantee the right to stay.

READ MORE: Why we want to leave – EU citizens fear for future without indyref2

As disappointed as we are in how we have been misrepresented, we hope the negative response will highlight the importance of properly measured language in such delicate matters, as well as the need for crystal clear detail rather than buzz words and sensationalist spin. As such, we extend an invitation to you to work with us to share these issues with your readers in depth, in future publications.

For example, the citizens rights group the3million published a list of 162 questions for the UK Government on Settled Status and our future rights. Less than 20% of these were ever answered. There is nothing settled about “Settled Status”, yet the mainstream media maintain in every bulletin that “EU nationals have the right to stay”.

The rejection rate for Permanent Residency was 28%. With limited trials of the process so far, we have no idea yet on a realistic rejection rate for Settled Status. What we do know is that, despite guarantees previously given by UK Government that comprehensive sickness insurance wouldn’t be required in any case, they are now stating that it will still be required for some.

Settled Status will include “suitability checks” on children as young as 10, and people with all-but-forgotten minor infractions fear long-spent issues from their past haunting their security to stay in their home. We literally know of 50-year-olds, with a fine for peer-pressured shoplifting at age 11, terrified it might mean they have to leave their homes of more than 40 years.

READ MORE: 'Brexodus': EU nationals to leave Scotland unless indyref2 called

We spoke of the hostile environment facing EU nationals. With no physical status documents, the onus will be put on employers and landlords to engage directly with the Home Office using our “unique codes” to confirm our residence/work rights, putting off many from employing or renting to EU nationals in the future. Follow the hashtag #AlreadyNotFine and you will quickly see that we don’t need to wait for March 2019 to see the impact on us; we are already feeling it, in struggling to secure property leases, change jobs or seek promotions, and even access credit. That’s before we even get into the rising xenophobia across the UK, and yes, growing in Scotland too.

There are data protection issues too; even just applying means allowing the UK Government to share your data with whomever they like, including private companies and overseas organisations. And with the recent immigration amendment passed with the GDPR Act, those subject to immigration procedures have no right to request what data is held on them, so it is difficult to correct errors.

Reporting on these and other issues causing great fear and uncertainty among EU nationals may go some way to helping our fellow Scots empathise with us. We are fighting two battles at once here: to keep fighting for Scottish independence, we need support in fighting the impact on our rights coming with Brexit.

We want to stay. This is our home. You are our community. Work with us to promote the positive, inclusive, diverse and progressive country we believe Scotland wants to, and can, be.

Ash Burnett
EU Citizens for an Independent Scotland

I WAS dismayed to see the front page of The National on Saturday suggesting a group of EU citizens are threatening to leave if we don’t get an indyref soon (EU nationals: We need indy vote now or we leave, November 24).

Leaving the issue of when to call a referendum to one side, I think that this tendency to use the approach “if you don’t do this, we will leave” isn’t a helpful political argument in these tricky times.

It suggests a fragile adherence to a position which has little permanent traction and I regret your headlining of it.

The Unionist press are reporting the mounting pressure on our First Minister to publish a detailed plan for another referendum and this is being weaponised to suggest that we are fragmenting, which is far from the case.

Please can you consider carefully the impact of your front page. This negative, panicky message would have been difficult for Yes groups to hand to the public.

We need to project positive, confident messages.

Cathie Lloyd
Letters, Lochbroom

WE have so many wonderful peoples, past and present, whichever century, but for those who won’t have a named place in history, here’s to them!

Those who came, married, settled, and left their mark through their everyday hard work, raised families, paid taxes.

With great grandchildren in schools, playing football, watching rugby, Brownies, Girl Guides. You name it, their legacy is here.

So to you and yours, thanks Dad.

Selma Rahman
Edinburgh