Concerned UK Poles call for ring-fencing of their rights - Press Statement

This week the Federation of Poles in Great Britain sent a letter (attached) to the Prime Minister expressing concern over a Brexit “no deal” scenario and calling for safeguarding the rights already negotiated in the draft Withdrawal Agreement through parliamentary legislation.

There are nearly one million Polish citizens currently living in the UK following the accession of Poland to the European Union in 2004. Overwhelmingly these Polish citizens are UK taxpayers, making a substantial contribution to the British economy and to British society. This figure includes up to 200,000 Polish children, mostly born in the UK.


Poles make up one third of the total population of EU citizens in this country. The Brexit referendum in June 2016 undermined the secure future of Polish and other EU citizens in this country, even if they had earlier obtained permanent residence. As a result of prolonged negotiations between the UK and the EU, Polish citizens and their families were told by the Home Office that they had to reapply for their right to stay and work in the UK. They would be eligible for settled status if they had worked here for five years and pre-settled status if it was less. These applications would have to be submitted between Brexit day on March 29th 2019 and 30th July 2021 to enable these citizens to stay.


However, even this new lesser status would be made null and void if the current fears of a "no deal" scenario in March next year become reality due to a breakdown in negotiations. Would Poles still have the right to work? Would they still have access to the NHS? Would Polish children still have the right to attend school?


Consequently, the Federation of Poles, speaking on behalf of Poles in the UK, is urging the Prime Minister to commit her government to ring-fencing the rights of all EU citizens that have already been agreed and included in the draft Withdrawal Agreement and to do it before Brexit Day 29th March 2019 in case the “no deal” scenario looks inevitable.


The Federation of Poles in Great Britain is the most representative organisation of the Polish diaspora in this country. It was founded in 1946 as an umbrella organization to promote Polish culture and to represent the voice of all the major post-war Polish social, cultural and educational organizations in the UK and today it has 53 member-organizations, including the Polish Social and Cultural Association and the Polish Education Society. It currently has the status of a charitable incorporated organization (CIO).


“Hard working Polish families in the UK have been deeply anxious about their fate following the Brexit referendum but also they have been patient and trusting that the British government would keep to its promises that all EU citizens be allowed to stay. Now with the possibility of there being 'no deal, the Government must make that commitment a reality”, says Wiktor Moszczynski, author of "Hello, I'm Your Polish Neighbour" and also a Federation trustee.


For further information please contact Chair of Trustees, Tadeusz Stenzel tel. 01664 565200 – tadstenzel@gmail.com,

or Wiktor Moszczynski tel. 07786471833 – wikmos@gmail.com




Issued on behalf of the Federation of Poles in Great Britain C.I.O. 240 King Street, London W6 0RF Web: www.zpwb.org.uk, ,