Dear Ms Caulfield,
Yesterday you voted against a motion that would guarantee
the right of EU citizens already in the UK to continue to live and work here.
I am one of a family of four of such EU citizens. My wife
builds sewage treatments plants, a vital if often underappreciated service, for
Southern Water. I teach economics at the University of Sussex, probably one of
the largest exporters in the area. Our alumni quickly find well-paid and secure
jobs. Our children attend the local primary school. We pay our taxes. My wife volunteers
in the local PTA. I regularly volunteer my expertise in energy and environment
to the Houses of Parliament. We spend most of our income in the local economy.
Frequent visits by friends and family from abroad support the local tourist
industry. We love Sussex and its people. To the dismay of their grandmother,
our children speak English in a Southeastern accent.
I can interpret yesterday’s vote in one of two ways. Either
you think it is acceptable to play politics with other people’s lives, or you
would like to see us leave this country. Could you kindly explain why you voted
as you did?
Best regards
Richard
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Dear Richard
I did not vote against EU
citizens staying in the EU. This was an opposition debate that has no bearing
on Government business. It would be wrong to quantify, as in the opposition
motion yesterday, what movement of people will be allowed under our negotiated
settlement which has only just started. That said the PM made it very clear
yesterday that all existing EU citizens will be able to stay in the UK and that
work is being done to ensure as many EU workers are able to move freely here
once we leave.
The vote yesterday was the SNP
playing politics and deliberately undermining our ability to negotiate the best
deal for Britain and ensuring we are able to have free movement of people from
the EU. My family are also from the EU and so I have a particular interest in
ensuring free movement continues.
I hope that reassures you.
Maria
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Dear Maria,
No, this does not reassure me at
all.
You argue that the motion
reflects your position and the position of your party leader. Yet you voted
against it. Please forgive me for finding that rather odd.
Please also forgive me for
taking offense that you intend to treat the rights of my children and my wife,
and many others in similar positions, as cards to be negotiated with.
Best regards
Richard
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It
was an opposition day debate that has no legislative bearing but would
undermine the position of the Government to negotiate if it had been seen as a
fixed position of Parliament.
If
this had been a Gov motion which would have actually changed the laws in this
country then I would have voted against it. It was just a debate. Opposition
debates never hold more weight than just being a debate and never hold any
legislative power.
Maria
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Richard
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Dear Maria,
Thank you for clearing that up.
To you and your friends in
Westminster, this is just politics. To me, this is about the rights and future
of my family.
Best
-------------
Dear
Richard
I am
not a fan of opposition debates as they are just political debates that have no
substance in terms of outcome but I appreciate that they send a message to
constituents that does not reflect what will be the outcome of our negotiations
but does in fact cause unnecessary anxiety and distress.
I am
hoping to go on to the Brexit select committee where we hold the Government to
account on this process and I will very much be ensuring that EU residents who
are here have the protection and reassurance they need when the repeal bill
comes before parliament.
Best
wishes
Maria
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Dear Maria,
May I point out that opposition
is a crucial part of any democracy?
Best
Richard
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