EU nationals should register to safeguard Scots residence, lawyer warns

European nationals living in Scotland should act now to ensure they can continue living in this country should the UK vote to leave the European Union, according to a Dundee-based immigration lawyer.

Jamie Kerr of legal firm Thorntons is urging EU to register with the Home Office to ensure that they are protected in the event of a referendum vote against continued membership.

His warning follows yesterday's speech in Germany by former Prime Minister, John Major, who claimed there was a “very real risk of separation”, putting the chance of a British exit from the EU at “just under 50%”.

Mr Kerr said: “Over recent months, UK politics have been dominated by intense debate about immigration. With the rapid rise of UKIP, David Cameron is now offering a referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU.

“John Major’s comments that there’s a 50% chance of Britain leaving shows that Europeans across Britain now need to take this seriously.

“Should the UK leave the EU, all Europeans who are here lawfully under free movement laws will face uncertainties over their right to remain here.

“To avoid this, I would strongly encourage all European nationals to apply to the Home Office for a residence card. Many will be eligible for British nationality and will have never needed to think about applying for a British passport. If they are eligible, they should apply now to avoid severe problems if Britain moves closer to the EU door.”

There are an estimated 2.5 million Europeans currently living in the UK.