Britain’s new Prime Minister, Theresa May has told eastern European countries that the British people have sent what she called "a very clear message" regarding the EU’s Freedom of Movement rules.
During a tour of six European capitals, the British premier has said the Brexit vote meant the British people wanted to reduce migration.
The issue will be at the heart of all Brexit negotiations in the years to come and, as Richard Bestic reports, is a cause for uncertainty for East Europeans now living in the UK.
Boston on England’s East coast is Britain’s most Eurosceptic town, where more than 75% of residents voted to quit the European Union.
Many overwhelmed by an influx of Eastern Europeans, as numbers put pressure on housing, schools and the health service.
The Freedom of Movement rules, which have seen Boston dubbed Little Poland, will be critical to talks aimed at forging a new relationship with Europe.
As Theresa May laid the foundations for those talks with a European tour, she was sensitive to the alarm a divisive Brexit has caused among the UK’s estimated 800,000 Poles.
"I understand that Poles currently living in the UK want to know whether they will retain their rights once the UK leaves the EU," She said.
"I want, and expect, to be able to guarantee their rights in the UK. The only circumstances in which that would not be possible would be if the rights of British citizens living across the EU were not guaranteed."
Despite those assurances, some still have worries over Britain’s uncertain future with Europe.
Reduced access to Eastern European Labour could also have a wider post Brexit impact on Britain’s economy. In construction fears an end to Freedom of Movement could slow the building of homes, already falling behind demand.
While agricultural labour, dominated by Eastern Europeans in some regions, concerns about bringing in the harvest.
At some stage the UK is going to close its doors on the EU’s Freedom of Movement, the government though won’t say when for fear there’ll be a last minute rush at British borders.
