Petition · past parliament

Not to allow freedom of movement as part of any deal with the EU after Brexit

Closed 21,537 signatures

What the petition asks

The vast majority of those who voted leave did so because of the lack of control over immigration and free movement within Europe putting a strain on our resources. Any negotiations with the EU should not allow free movement of people. Politicians are backtracking on promises. Don't let them

Government response · 10 August 2016

The Government will set out its negotiating position in due course, including on issues such as free movement, as we prepare to commence the formal process of exiting the European Union.

The process for leaving the EU and determining our future relationship will be a complex one, so the Government must take the time to think carefully through our objectives and approach. We want to ensure the best possible outcome for Britain and the future UK-EU relationship. The Prime Minister has been clear that we would not trigger Article 50 until we have a UK-wide approach and objectives for these negotiations.

Until we leave the EU, EU citizens and their family members coming to and living in the UK continue to be subject to the rights and responsibilities set down in EU law on free movement. The same situation applies to UK citizens travelling, working and living in other EU Member States.

The issue of free movement of people and its place in the future UK-EU relationship will be considered as part of the Government’s preparation of its negotiating position. The Prime Minister has said that in negotiating the deal, we need to ensure that we listen to what people have said about the need for controls on free movement, and that we also negotiate the right and best deal for trade in goods and services for the British people.

A new Department for Exiting the EU has been created with responsibility for overseeing preparations for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and conducting these withdrawal negotiations in support of the Prime Minister. It will also lead work to establish the future relationship between the EU and the UK. In doing this it will work very closely with the UK’s Devolved Administrations, the UK Parliament, and a wide range of other interested parties on what the approach to those negotiations should be.

Home Office

Debate in Parliament

MPs debated this petition on 17 October 2016.

Read the transcript · Watch the debate

Timeline

1 Jul 2016 Petition opened for signatures
17 Jul 2016 Passed 10,000 signatures, requiring a government response
10 Aug 2016 Government responded
17 Oct 2016 Debated in Parliament
1 Jan 2017 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 21,537
Status Closed
Opened 1 Jul 2016
Closed 1 Jan 2017
Response 10 Aug 2016
Debated 17 Oct 2016

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.