AN expert in immigration law has criticised the government for failing to set out potential consequences post-Brexit for EU nationals who have been living in the UK for many years

Ivon Sampson - a partner in Healys LLP (Brighton) - said that Sussex has a particularly high number of foreign nationals from the rest of the European Union.

But he says many don’t know who to turn to, or what their options are.

He said: "Immigration issues have suddenly become central to the lives of EU nationals, many of whom never expected such issues to arise and want clarity about their position.

"These are often people with careers and lives fully embedded in our communities whose children go to school here, but who now are unsure about their legal status."

The government has said that it does not want to give too much information away before invoking the controversial Article 50 and starting to negotiate the terms of Brexit.

Mr Sampson said: "This is no comfort to EU nationals or their employers.

"Individuals are concerned as to whether they will be allowed to continue to live and work in Sussex and the UK after Brexit.

"At the same time employers are confused as to what the implications are for them, wondering if they will have to get special work visas/entitlements for their EU national employees.

"Or will they have to dismiss them if they are not allowed to live and work in Sussex and the UK post Brexit?

"What the government has failed to advise is that under the EEA Regulations there are thousands - if not hundreds of thousands - of EU nationals who may have already acquired permanent residence in the UK no matter what happens with Brexit simply by having lived, conducted a business, worked or studied in the UK for five years."

Mr Sampson is heading up a new immigration department in the offices of Healys LLP in Old Steine, Brighton.

Theresa May, the Prime Minister, has refused to guarantee the rights of EU citizens currently living in the UK, saying she believes that the government must not 'reveal its hand' ahead of Brexit negotiations which will begin when she triggers Article 50 next year.

Once an EU citizen has been in the UK for more than five years, they are given permanent residency rights.