Only half of the thousands of EU nationals living in Swindon have been offered permanent residency here according to government figures.

And Liberal Democrat candidate in South Swindon Stan Pajak says the rest have been left ‘in limbo’.

The figures on the gov.uk website show 6,240 out of 12,340 EU nationals in the town have been offered ‘settled status’. Another 2,260 have got pre-settled status – a temporary right to stay – and 2,690 people are still awaiting a decision.

Mr Pajak said: “Too many EU nationals in Swindon who are crucial to our town’s economic success are deeply anxious about their right to stay.

"Many of them fill vital roles in our health service, industry and our schools. It’s disgraceful for the Conservative government to leave them in legal limbo like this.

“Families and children must not be made to live under a cloud of uncertainty any longer. The Liberal Democrats will stop Brexit, protect the rights of EU citizens and build a brighter future for our country.”

Other candidates in South Swindon are Conservative Robert Buckland, Labour’s Sarah Church and the Green party’s Stephen Thompson.