Edinburgh MP vows to continue fight for foreign nationals in NHS to get indefinite right to remain

Edinburgh MP Christine Jardine has vowed to carry on fighting for foreign nationals working in the NHS to have the right to stay in this country, despite her private member's bill on the issue being delayed.

Christine Jardine says she will reintroduce her bill if it falls

She wants NHS and care staff who come from other countries to be given indefinite right to remain under immigration laws as a “thank you” for their dedication and hard work on the frontline during the Covid pandemic.

Ms Jardine, Lib Dem MP for Edinburgh West, said: “Most of us recognise that if it weren't for the tens of thousands of foreign nationals working as doctors, nurses catering staff and auxiliary staff throughout the NHS and social care we would be struggling at the moment.

"A lot of them have done their training in this country and if they were given indefinite leave to remain – which most of them will be applying for – they would be able to stay here, paying tax and national insurance and contributing to the country, and it would also be a way of saying ‘thank you’ for all they have done through this darkest of periods.

"It’s all very well to clap for the NHS, but giving them indefinite leave to remain would ensure the NHS remains properly staffed and help mitigate the stress everyone in NHS is facing at the moment.”

Without indefinite leave to remain, foreign nationals have to keep applying to extend their visas and must meet the latest criteria.

Ms Jardine’s bill was due to be debated by MPs last week but that was called off when the Commons reduced its meeting days due to Covid and the proposed legislation is now in limbo.

She said: “A backlog of private member's bills is building up and a lot of them will fall if they are not heard by May.

"But if my bill falls, i will reintroduce it. I’m not giving up. But in the meantime I’m going to try and persuade the government it would be a good thing for them to do. I think it's something which has a huge amount of public interest and support.”

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