Scots Expats As Well As Brits Feel Abandoned In Europe

It’s not just English expats who’re seeing their plans changed and their lives disordered by Brexit, as two Scottish expat couples recently found out.

The dark shadow of Brexit has been causing confusion, uncertainty and concern wherever in Europe Britons are working, but for a few it’s ruining the best moments of their lives. Scots expat Kirsten Mackay is living in Austria and was planning to briefly return home for the most important day in her life – her dream wedding day on March 30th. She and her parents had planned the perfect wedding in Edinburgh but, as Brexit confusion increased, the couple were warned by their legal advisor they might not be able to return to Austria if a no-deal Brexit kicked in on the 29th.

Sadly, they’ve now decided to bring the great day forward by one week, thus ensuring they’re back home in Austria by March 29. As a result they’ve lost sleep, money and the joy of seeing their guests arriving from all across the world. Kirsten is furious about the almost total lack of information given by the British government. The couple are happy to stay in Austria as they’ve a lovely apartment, great jobs, great friends and a wonderful pet dog, so losing it all due to Brexit is simply unacceptable.

In a remote corner of the stunningly beautiful French Alps, a British expat is running a very successful holiday chalet destination for British visitors. Chris Cole moved from Scotland to the region 10 years ago in order to change his lifestyle and start his own business, Chalet La Giettaz. For Chris and his partner, the Brexit effect was felt immediately after the referendum result was announced and sterling began its downward spiral, thus driving up the cost of a holiday in France. Bookings have fallen and, for his mostly British guests, a stay at the Chalet now costs 20 per cent more than before Brexit.

On a personal level, Brexit has affected Chris and made his dream life far more complicated. He’d registered as a resident, but will now have to do it all again after 29 March as he’ll no longer be a citizen of Europe. Even his dog has had to be blood-tested for rabies against a possible future trip back to the UK. he believes both Brits and Scots in Europe feel abandoned by their own government and is troubled by the lack of information.