Brexit and the Uncertainty for Polish Immigrants in Britain

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»Five, four, three, two, one.«

Brexit is here. At the end of January 2020 Great Britain will leave the European Union. Thousands of Brits celebrate in Parliament Square, London.

But not everyone was in a celebratory mood with Brexit. Agata Błachowska emigrated from Poland to Great Britain 16 years ago.

Agata Błachowska, Polish immigrant:
“Good morning!”

We meet her while shopping in a Polish store. Agata works as a nurse in London. A job she is overqualified for. That didn’t bother her for a long time.

Agata has found a home in Great Britain – actually. Because since Brexit, like many Poles here, she has been unsure whether she wants to stay in the country.

Agata Błachowska, Polish immigrant:
“Of course I’ve encountered situations where I’ve been told: If you don’t like it here, then leave. You’re not needed here. You can go anytime.”

Great Britain has long been popular with Poles. Polish nationals still make up the second largest immigrant group in the UK, well ahead of people from Pakistan, Ireland and Germany. The number of Poles in Great Britain continued to increase until 2017. More than a million Polish citizens were there at the wedding – and these are only the official figures. Since 2018, however, the number has dropped drastically, now by around a third.

Magdalena Zielińska works in Birmingham for the NGO »POMOC« – in English: help. She knows a lot of Poles in the city – and remembers well the uncertainty in the community after the vote in favor of Brexit in the 2016 referendum.

Magdalena Zielinska, HELP:
“We’ve seen these passive-aggressive headlines. Our community felt that something had changed and we knew that if Brexit actually happened, even greater changes were to come. Because there were so many rumors and no one knew what was really going to happen and if there would be any protection for us, some didn’t want to risk it. Some closed their companies. Some sold their houses and went back to Poland or another European country.«

For example, Magda supports Poles in obtaining a residence permit. The bureaucratic hurdles for EU citizens in Great Britain have been significantly higher since Brexit.

Magdalena Zielinska, HELP:
“British governments’ policies towards migrants, not just Polish migrants, have become increasingly hostile. It got worse after Brexit. There have been various interior ministers in recent years and it seems to be getting worse with each one.«

Nevertheless, many of her compatriots are not deterred by this, says Magda.

Magdalena Zielinska, HELP:
»There is a saying in Poland. I don’t know how to translate it: ‘Polak potrafi.’ A Pole can do it. That supports us. It shows that we find our way out of every situation. This mentality has kept us here so far.«

Labor migration from the EU is actually a godsend for the UK, especially in sectors such as care.

Agata studied music education in Poland and worked with children and young people. In London, she lives as a carer with her clients and provides 24-hour care. She says: Apparently her university degree wasn’t worth anything in Great Britain. Agata accepted this reluctantly for a long time, but now she’s had enough.

Agata Błachowska, Polish immigrant:
“I feel like a second-class citizen. That’s how I’ve always felt here, but it’s gotten worse and as a result I’m actually thinking about going back to Poland. I want to feel at home, but I don’t feel at home here. I used to feel that way here, but not anymore.«

Agata hardly holds anything in London anymore. She is planning her future in Poland – also because someone is waiting for her there.

Agata Błachowska, Polish immigrant:
“I have another reason to go back: I have a two-year-old grandson who I adore. I spend time with him whenever I can. I don’t want him to only know his grandma through video calls. I just want to be in his life, that would be wonderful.”

Agata will go. Her dream of living in London comes to an end. Great Britain is now taking care of itself first and foremost – and in doing so it may be cutting itself in the flesh.

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