Bremain in Spain Comments on Amber Rudd's Resignation

April 30, 2018, Valencia, Spain. Press Dispensary. Bremain in Spain ( http://www.bremaininspain.com ), a group campaigning for the rights of British citizens in Spain and the EU, reacts to the resignation of Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who tendered her resignation to Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday 29 April.

Rudd admitted "inadvertently misleading" parliament over targets for removing illegal immigrants. She had faced intensifying calls to resign over the targets, as well as her handling of the Windrush scandal.

Rudd's departure is a blow for the prime minister, who publicly declared her "full confidence" in the Home Secretary on Friday.

Windrush has opened questions about Theresa May’s leadership, her own tenure as Home Secretary between 2010-16, and the creation of the ‘hostile environment’ policy to immigration. The aim of the policy was to reduce immigration figures to the levels promised in the 2010 Conservative Party Election Manifesto.

Another high-level resignation seems counter-productive to the operation of government, at a time when Brexit continues to be muddled, unclear and dangerous. Although some of her actions as Home Secretary have proved disastrous, Amber Rudd has clearly taken the fall for profound issues about immigration at the heart of the UK government that began in 2010.

Bremain in Spain believes that Windrush, combined with Rudd’s resignation, should be the start of a meaningful dialogue about immigration to and from the UK. It is relevant to the challenges felt by UK citizens living in the EU and EU citizens living in the UK every day.

Sue Wilson, Chair of Bremain in Spain, comments: "Misleading parliament and the British public seems to be the new norm with this Conservative government. What happened to those famous British qualities of openness, tolerance and honesty?

"While Rudd boxed herself into a corner, leaving resignation as her only exit door, you have to feel some small sympathy when it was as much May's sword she fell on as her own.

"If the appropriate behaviour by a Cabinet member who is caught lying is to resign, why are Rudd’s colleagues not holding themselves to the same standard?”

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Notes for editors
Bremain in Spain is a pro-European group campaigning to protect the rights of British migrants living and working in the European Union. The group believes the best way to guarantee the protection of all existing rights and freedoms is to #StopBrexit. It supports the #PeoplesVote campaign to give the public a final say on the Brexit deal. Bremain in Spain is a not-for-profit association headed by Chair, Sue Wilson, and run by a dedicated team of volunteers. It is a member of Britain for Europe, a partner of European Movement and one of a coalition of UK citizens’ groups, British in Europe.

For further information please contact
Sue Wilson, Chair
Bremain in Spain
Email:
Jo Chipchase
Press Officer
Email:
Tel: + 34 696 056 328

Alastair Stewart
Deputy Press Officer
Email:
Tel: + 44 7549 504281

Site: www.bremaininspain.com
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Twitter: @BremainInSpain