Pro-Brexit MP provokes backlash after complaining about application process for settled status for her parents

Twitter users did not fail to see the irony when Ashfield MP Gloria De Piero tweeted Savid Javid to claim that the process to register EU citizens living in the UK was ‘not good enough.’

She said: ‘Dear @ukhomeoffice @sajidjavid trying to sort my parents application for settled status. They are in their 70s and 80s. They don’t have smart phones but I’m happy to sort it for them but It’s such a complicated process I can’t figure out how to do it. This is not good enough.’

Her tweet provoked more than 1,000 responses – with the majority pointing out that she should be speaking up for the three million EU citizens – not just her parents.

The respondents also claimed her u-turn on Brexit since the referendum had added to the ‘hostile environment’ facing those now living in the UK.

Cathie Wood responded: ‘Remind me again why you are supporting Brexit? Its causing misery for millions – not all are lucky enough to have an MP to fight their immigration corner for them.’

Jessica Simor QC added: ‘At least your parents live here. What about EU citizens whose home is in the UK but whose parents live in an EU27 country? How can you support Brexit when it builds walls, divides families, weakens Britain & the EU, aids the rise of the far right & threatens global stability.’

Damien Fletcher said: ‘You campaigned against a #PeoplesVote in defiance of Labour policy and now you complain when Brexit affects your parents? Explain yourself, unless you want to look like a hypocritical fool.’

Andy Conway Morris tweeted: ‘I’m sorry to hear that Gloria, but perhaps you could reflect on how your support for Brexit has facilitated the hostile environment for EU citizens?’

 
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Trevor Warner wrote: ‘Forgive me @GloriaDePiero if I experience a frisson of schadenfreude but actions have consequences. #BinBrexit’

Danny Gav said: ‘Is that the noise of chickens coming home to roost?’

De Piero was one of more than 78 MPs who abstained from voting against the Immigration and Social Security Bill which supported the removal of Freedom of Movement. It passed by 63 votes.

While she backed Remain in the referendum campaign, voters in her constituency backed Leave by 70% in the June 2016 EU referendum. She has since called to respect the result and has opposed a People’s Vote.

She recently told the Guardian: ‘A lot of times I read in the papers, my constituents, or constituents who voted leave, are sort of portrayed as angry people who did it through resentment. There’s optimism. They think Britain can be better – and actually, I think it’s not our position to go, ‘well we’re going to prove you wrong’; it should be our position to do our very bloody best to prove them right.’