Assembly expresses concern about the Brexit ‘perfect storm’

The Mayor and the Government need to look at a permanent solution to ensuring London maintains its food supply and trains the necessary number of HGV drivers, in the wake of Brexit.



The London Assembly has today expressed concern about the skills gap, and reports of deportation threats to EU Londoners.

Sakina Sheikh AM, who proposed the motion said:

“The long shadow of Brexit continues to threaten our economic recovery from the pandemic and the diverse social fabric of our city.

“It is extremely concerning to hear reports that EU Citizens who have applied for Settled Status are still being threatened with deportation. The Home Office are already reneging on their promise that their rights would be protected whilst they tackle the backlog of unprocessed applications.

“With a shortage of HGV drivers brought on by Brexit, compounded by the challenges thrown up by the pandemic, we are also seeing an impact on food supplies in the capital.

“We must see the Government take action now to secure the rights of EU Londoners and work with the Mayor to find a long-term solution to protecting the capital’s food supply chains”.

The full text of the motion is:

“This Assembly notes that Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic coinciding has led to an almost perfect storm in London. The Assembly welcomes the Mayor’s Recovery Plan for the city but acknowledges that this can only work within the framework of Government support and policies.

This Assembly puts on record its concern of the impact of Brexit particularly with regards to the skills gap and reports of deportations despite having applied for settled status. Of particular concern is the impact of the pandemic and Brexit on food supplies in the capital as there is a shortage of HGV drivers. This Assembly notes that this could lead to short term solutions such as bringing in the Army and bin lorry drivers to fill the gap.

This Assembly calls on the Mayor to make further representations to the Home Office to protect EU Londoners who are threatened with deportation despite having applied for settled status.

In addition, this Assembly calls on the Chair of the Assembly to write to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel MP to seek assurances that those EU Londoners that have applied for EU Settled Status, will not be deported.

Furthermore, this Assembly calls on the Mayor, along with the Government, to look at a permanent solution to ensuring London maintains its food supply and trains the necessary number of HGV drivers to support this.”