Brexit: European Union Citizenship

Debate between Lord Bridges of Headley and Lord Clark of Windermere

Tuesday 13th December 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bridges of Headley]

My Lords, we believe that we should honour the result of the referendum. Full stop. Period.

[Lord Clark of Windermere (Lab)]

My Lords, I too accept the result of the referendum and accept that Britain must leave. However, the NHS played a major part in that referendum, and it is beginning to fall apart. It depends entirely—entirely—on overseas staff working in it. Will the Minister pressurise his colleagues to guarantee that those who have spent years working in the NHS will be allowed to stay in Britain?

[Lord Bridges of Headley]

The noble Lord makes a passionate point and I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those who work in the NHS, wherever they come from. I am sure that that issue, as well as the myriad other issues regarding immigration, is one that my colleagues, especially in the Home Office, will take account of.