Members of Parliament in Britain have criticised the Android-only app that has been developed for EU citizens to apply for settled UK status. Seventy-one Labour MPs and MEPs have accused the Home Office of “digital discrimination” for creating the Android-only app.
Since January 21, the 3.6 million EU citizens living in the UK have been eligible to apply for settled status using an Android-only app to confirm their identity using their passport. They may then complete their application on the government’s website by providing evidence they have lived continuously in the UK for five years. Without the right type of smartphone, applicants must verify their identity at one of 13 centres around the UK. This has lead groups representing EU citizens in the UK, to highlight the discrepancy this may cause as people living in some areas face long journeys to complete their applications: Cornish residents must travel to Bath, and the only Scottish centre is in Edinburgh.
In an open letter to home secretary Sajid Javid, frontbenchers including Luke Pollard, shadow environment minister, and Paul Blomfield, shadow Brexit minister, say the system “flies in the face of fair treatment of EU nationals”. The complainants say the system causes considerable distress to their constituents and places another barrier between them and post-Brexit certainty. The British government was criticised for making EU citizens “jump through hoops”.
Jess Phillips, the Labour MP, has offered the use of her mobile phone to any of her Birmingham Yardley constituents and Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge has paid for two mobile phones for its staff to use.
On March 30, 2019, the day after Britain is due to leave the EU, applicants will be able to have their identity documents checked by post and the number of document-checking centres will be expanded to more than 50.
