Swedish MP intervenes in ‘damaging’ Brexit row over elderly Britons ordered to leave

A Swedish lawmaker is stepping in to address what he calls "damaging" deportations of elderly Britons from Sweden, stemming from post-Brexit residency disputes. Håkan Svenneling, a representative for Värmland, has written to the migration minister, Johan Forssell, demanding action to halt the removals.

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intends to do to stop the deportations

Svenneling highlighted the case of Joyce Thomas, a 78-year-old British widow who has been given four weeks to leave Sweden after residing there for 21 years. Thomas stated she is in shock and feels sick, emphasizing the distress caused by the threat of removal. She claims that she and her late husband, who handled administrative matters, were repeatedly assured they did not need to take any action regarding their residency status after Brexit.

Thomas, a retired nurse, moved to Sweden with her husband when she was 57 to be closer to their son and grandchildren. Her husband passed away in 2023. Despite being self-sufficient and not relying on state benefits, Thomas faces separation from her family, friends, and her husband's grave due to the deportation order. She made a late application to remain in Sweden in 2023, missing the December 31, 2021 deadline.

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I am in shock. I feel sick. An individual’s life is at stake at my age. It is hell. I have done nothing wrong.

Svenneling contends that Britons lawfully residing in Sweden before the UK's EU exit should retain their residency rights under the withdrawal agreement. He argues that the current situation, where elderly individuals who have lived in Sweden for decades are losing their right to remain due to missed deadlines or application errors, was not the intended outcome. The MP also raised the case of Horace George Mason, 74, who has dementia and Parkinson's and is in full-time care, also facing removal orders.

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It was not intended to result in elderly people who had lived in Sweden for decades losing their rights to remain because of a missed deadline or deficiencies in their application [to stay].

Svenneling's intervention adds pressure on Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's government to address concerns about Sweden's implementation of the EU-UK withdrawal agreement. He stated that the ongoing deportations are harming the bilateral relationship between Sweden and the United Kingdom, a historically important partner for Sweden.

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It is clear that the deportations now taking place are damaging bilateral relations between Sweden and the United Kingdom.