World News
Swedish opposition party promises reprieve for Britons facing post-Brexit deportation
The Centre party pledges to reopen residency applications if a centre-left coalition takes power in the upcoming election.
The short version
- Sweden's opposition Centre party announced it will introduce legislation to halt the deportation of long-term British residents caught in post-Brexit administrative issues if it wins power.
- The pledge follows multiple enforcement actions against British nationals, including the detention of a man in Stockholm and an order for a 78-year-old resident of 21 years to leave the country.
- Opposition figures argue Sweden's strict approach violates the spirit of the EU-UK withdrawal agreement, while UK Liberal Democrats have urged British officials to intervene.
- The proposed policy depends on the outcome of Sweden's general election scheduled for September 13.
Key facts
- Niels Paarup-Petersen, migration spokesperson for Sweden's Centre party, pledged to introduce new legislation and reopen the application window for British citizens facing deportation over post-Brexit residency paperwork.[The Guardian]
- Joyce Thomas, a 78-year-old British widow who has resided in Sweden for 21 years, received an order to leave the country by next Wednesday.[The Guardian]
- Swedish police detained a British man in Stockholm on Tuesday ahead of a potential deportation.[The Guardian]
- Other reported deportation cases include a 34-year-old man deported in January after living in Sweden since childhood, and a 74-year-old dementia patient who has lived in the country for 25 years.[The Guardian]
- Sweden's general election is scheduled for September 13, with opinion polling showing a centre-left bloc positioned ahead of the incumbent centre-right coalition.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- Whether a new coalition government will be formed and successfully pass legislation before scheduled deportations take place remains dependent on the election outcome.[The Guardian]
- Neither the British government nor the European Commission has formally commented or intervened regarding the recent Swedish enforcement decisions.[The Guardian]