LIBERAL Democrats in Teignbridge have called on MP Anne Marie Morris to ensure thousands of EU nationals living and working in the south west are guaranteed the right to remain in Britain.

The demand comes in the wake of the House of Lords defeating the government over an amendment to the Brexit bill which would guarantee the right of EU citizens to remain in the UK.

The issue will now be voted on by MPs as pressure mounts on the government to change position.

About 120,000 EU nationals live and work in the South West, including 645 doctors, 3,868 nurses and 4,653 working in social care.  

Former Teignbridge MP and Devon county councillor Richard Younger-Ross is supporting the Lib Dems call for an NHS passport guaranteeing the right to remain in Britain for all EU nationals who work directly for the NHS.

He said: ‘Prime Minister May needs to reconsider how her Government is treating the thousands of EU citizens living in the South West.

‘NHS and care services in Devon and the South West would struggle to cope if all the doctors, nurses and care workers from the EU left because they no longer felt welcome.’

He added: ‘These people are not political pawns in a game of hard Brexit, they are the people that help to keep the sick alive and the elderly well cared for. 

‘The Liberal Democrats will stand up against this Conservative Brexit Government for a Britain that is open, tolerant and united.’