MPs urge indefinite leave for foreign nationals in NHS

A cross-party group of more than 60 MPs have argued that foreign nationals working in the NHS should be given indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Led by the Liberal Democrat Christine Jardine and the Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy, the MPs have written to the Home Secretary Priti Patel urging her to say that ‘those who have put their lives at risk for our country are welcome to live in it’.

The politicians also say that indefinite leave to remain should be extended to the families of foreign nationals working in the NHS.

Patel recently announced a free-of-charge one-year extension for 2,800 foreign doctors, nurses and paramedics, whose visas are due to expire by 1 October. However, the MPs argue that this is not enough.

Jardine said: “Thousands of the doctors, nurses and support staff who work in our NHS – the people on the frontline of this crisis – are foreign nationals. Our beloved NHS could not function and lives would be lost at this difficult time without their contribution.

“Right across the UK we have seen people’s enormous pride in the NHS and goodwill towards NHS staff. Now the government has a chance to show its own support for the people’s heroes by extending the right to remain to all the foreign national NHS workers fighting for our lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. If someone is prepared to risk their life for this country, they must be allowed to live in it. This is not just a gesture – it is our moral responsibility.”