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Date Published: 08/07/2022

ARCHIVED - How could Boris Johnson resignation affect Brits living in Spain?

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

British citizens resident in Spain could see changes in post-Brexit talks after BoJo goes

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - How could Boris Johnson resignation affect Brits living in Spain?

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned as head of his party, and will be replaced as PM as soon as a replacement can be found.

The departure of Boris Johnson has been welcomed in the Republic of Ireland and in Europe, since his government’s negotiating skills on trade talks and border disputes post-Brexit were deemed dreadful by his Brussels and Dublin counterparts.

Now, the question is what will happen next, and many Brits who live in Spain or other European countries, own a home there or regularly visit on holiday will be left wondering how their status will be affected as a result of a change at the helm of Brexit talks between the UK and the EU.

While Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Ukraine did say it was sad that Johnson was leaving after his longstanding, outspoken criticism of Vladimir Putin and decisive leadership on dealing with the invasion and Ukrainian refugees, Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin saw the resignation as an opportunity for a reset.

“Prime Minister Johnson has led the British government during an especially challenging period, including dealing with the impact of Covid-19 and the response to the war on Ukraine,” he admitted, but added that “the relationship between our governments has been strained and challenged in recent times.”

Indeed, Johnson’s handling of the Northern Ireland protocol and the Good Friday agreement, in particular, were seen as “wholly negative” by Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald.

In Europe, the chair of the European parliament’s trade committee, Bernd Lange, was equally as blunt: “Finally”, he said. “End of an undignified spectacle. Boris Johnson was all about maintaining power and his own ego … Now, British theatrical thunder should end.”

So what now for Brexit negotiations after Boris Johnson?

It remains to be seen who will replace Johnson as party leader and PM, whether the hardline Brexiter Penny Mordaunt or someone willing to take a more moderate stance towards the EU, and whether they will be willing to compromise and negotiate for better and fairer trade and freedom of movement between the UK and Europe.

Johnson boasted in his resignation speech that he had “got Brexit done”, but the truth is anything but as many Briton’s in Spain can testify with regards to the shambolic 90-days-in-180 rule, inheritance laws, and the ongoing saga of the driving licences (although this has more to do with the UK Embassy in Madrid’s negotiations with the Spanish government than Number 10).

Will the UK rejoin the EU?

While it’s a long shot, there are actually some who see the downfall of Boris Johnson as the beginning of Britain’s reintegration into the European Union, and the reversal of Brexit. Recent polls suggest that support for Brexit in the UK is at an all-time low due to the dreadful way it’s been implemented since the referendum in 2016.

The Stay European campaign stated, “This was the Brexit Government. That is how it was elected, that is what it was for. Looking back, we will see the fall of Boris Johnson as the first step on the road to Rejoin.”

If this did happen, and all the pre-Brexit rules were reinstated as they were when Britain was still a part of the EU, then UK citizens living in Spain, who have property in Spain or wanting to visit Spain would be able to enjoy all the same healthcare, travel and residency privileges they did before.

Brits retiring to Spain would not have to prove such a high level of disposable income in order to get indefinite permission to reside in Spain, as currently the main head of the family needs to show monthly income of at least 2,259.60 euros and each dependent a further 564.90 euros.

Brits in Spain would not have to get a special visa or Spanish residency in order to remain in the country for more than 90 days in every 180. Briton’s travelling between the UK and Spain would be able to use the EU passport gates at airports again.

However, the truth is that there are few in Whitehall who see the possibility of Britain rejoining the EU as a legitimate reality right now, and the focus instead should be on making Brexit happen the right way, not the hardline way.

Then again, if the last few months have shown us anything about UK politics, it’s that anything can happen.

Image 1: Tim Hammond/Flickr

Image 2: Archive

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