British expats 'in tears' as Spain to deport 500 under new rules ‘Dream over'

Published date27 March 2021
A small exodus began last week as expats - including some whose applications for residency have been rejected - started to head back to Britain to beat Wednesday's deadline.

Anthony Cook, who has lived in Spain for seven years, told Global247news: “The Spanish dream is over for me, it’s time to go back to Cardiff.

"It’s been a blast but the new regulations have made it impossible to stay.

"The freedom of movement has gone and I don’t want to end up getting deported and fined.”

Fellow returning expat Shaun Cromber voted Leave but said he did not believe Brexit would end his Spanish lifestyle.

He said: "Yes I voted out, but I didn’t realise it would come to this.

"My application has been rejected and we are on our way home – my wife is in tears, she’s distraught if I’m honest and I’m not too happy at the prospect of returning back to the UK.

“I’ve loved living on the Costa del Sol and after five years can’t believe it has come to this.

"We applied but got rejected and so have no choice, although long term I think the Spanish will regret chucking us out of Spain.”

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6.28am update: Brexiteer Redwood lashes out at EU's threats over export threat - 'obey your own treaties'

THE EU'S threat to impose a COVID vaccine export ban on Britain has been savaged by a leading Brexiteer.

On Thursday EU leaders agreed in principle to tougher vaccine export controls. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told AstraZeneca, which makes the Oxford jab, it must “catch up” with EU deliveries before exporting.

However the bloc stopped short of the outright vaccine ban which many had feared.

Conservative MP and prominent Brexit supporter John Redwood hit back at Brussels on Twitter.

He tweeted: “The EU summit send out threats as member states argued over export bans and allocation of vaccine.

“It seems the EU does not feel the need to obey its own treaties over free trade and good relations with neighbouring states and companies.”

5.00am update: Peter Shilton's Brexit clash with Gary Lineker sparked furious BBC bias row

PETER SHILTON's Brexit row with former teammate Gary Lineker sparked a furious response from fellow BBC colleagues after the Match of the Day host condemned the UK's exit from the EU.

The goalkeeper is set to appear on BBC quiz show Pointless Celebrities tonight, alongside fellow former professional footballers Paul Parker, John Hartson and Rachel Brown-Finnis.

Shilton, who remains England men's most capped footballer, is a passionate Brexiteer, and has talked at length on the abuse he received following the referendum result. He has spoken about how he wanted the UK to "take back control", which has earned him scorn from people who backed the Remain campaign.

3.58am update: 'EU have been storing vaccines!' Claire Fox slams EU 'high level of vaccine scepticism'

CLAIRE Fox hits out 'the EU have been storing vaccines!' and not giving it to their own people. Bloc has caused 'high level of vaccine scepticism'.

Claire Fox delivered a scathing undressing of the European Union on Question Time last night as she branded the bloc been “storing vaccines” as millions lie in fridges across the bloc. She added their behaviour has led to a “high level of vaccine scepticism”.

The former MEP went on to claim how EU leaders have “ramped up tensions” over the vaccine chaos. She then fired off a stinging shot at Ursula von der Leyen for being “irresponsible in the extreme” for the vaccine chaos that has engulfed the bloc throughout the rollout of the vaccination programme.

02.19am update: Merkel seeking to capitalise on Brexit as 'London’s crumbs could become Frankfurt’s pie’

ANGELA MERKEL is seeking to capitalise on Brexit as "London's crumbs could become...

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