
EXPATS living in Spain could come flooding back to Britain when Article 50 is triggered.
More than 100,000 Britons in Spain may have to pack their bags and leave the sunshine due to the political upheaval in the wake of the Brexit referendum.
Independent political commentator Paul Quigley warned expats are “living in limbo”.
Mr Quigley told the Daily Star Online said: “Expats are ultimately living in limbo – they’ll be treading water for the next 18 months at least.
“Sadly, they’re about to find out that the reality’s never as good as the brochure.
“It’s been like this ever since the crash in 2008 but Brexit is the crowning jewel.”
“After Brexit they could look to deal with us but because they’ll be in the EU – and we won’t – they can’t.
“Youth unemployment is rocketing, the currency is stagnating and inflation is rampant.
“Brits could well have to start packing their bags because Spain simply cannot do a bilateral deal with us.”
More than 100,000 Britons in Spain may have to pack their bags
Around 108,000 of the 300,000 Britons in Spain are pensioners
The House of Commons Brexit select committee heard British pensioners in Spain may struggle to afford private healthcare if the NHS can no longer foot the bill.
Sue Wilson, one of the founders of the Remain in Spain group, said: “They may have no alternative but to come back.
Theresa May is yet to guarantee British expats that their healthcare will continue
“Many of those people, if they were forced to return, not only would they be worse off financially and be a drain on the NHS and perhaps the housing market, they are also going to suffer with their health, so it’s not just a financial impact, it’s an impact perhaps with their life expectancy.
“A big concern is people wondering if they have free healthcare in future, particularly if you are elderly. If your only alternative was private, for most that would be the difference between staying in Spain and leaving.”
Around 108,000 of the 300,000 Britons in Spain are pensioners.
Dave England, 64, moved to Spain after retiring as a nurse in the UK.
He told the Star: “After the fall in property prices from the 2008 crisis, sale of my home would not buy me a half-share in a bedsit in the UK.
“So selling up to return would be difficult but as the Government have so far refused to commit to maintaining healthcare it is something I and many of my fellow ex-pat pensioners must consider.”
SOURCE : THEXPRESS.CO.UK