THE region’s MP has welcomed the news that thousands of EU nationals have successfully applied to continue living in South Lakeland after Brexit.

Home Office figures reveal that by the end of September 2020, 2,640 people successfully applied to continue living in the area after December 31.

Of 2,690 applications dealt with in South Lakeland between August 2018 and September 30 2020, 1,540 granted applicants settled status and 1,100 pre-settled status. Around 60 applications were either refused, withdrawn, or invalid.

MP Tim Farron said:”“I’m delighted for those who will be able to continue living in the South Lakes.

“People who move from abroad to live here contribute so much to Cumbria.

“We’ve seen the positive impact they’ve had during this crisis, particularly those working in our local NHS, battling to save lives and those working as carers, looking after our loved ones.”

However, Oxford University’s Migration Observatory and think tank British Future have warned that new immigration rules could hit social care and hospitality businesses in the UK.

Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, said new rules requiring immigrants to meet a £25,400 salary threshold may pose issues for some sectors.

He said: “The Government has committed to allowing the NHS to recruit the staff it needs but has not done the same for social care.

“The most significant impacts are likely to be in social care and hospitality, for roles paying below those salary bands.”

But, Furness MP Simon Fell believes the new system is flexible enough to allow for recruitment needs.

He said: “I sit on the Home Affairs Committee and we spent some time looking into these issues.

“The important thing is that the new system is flexible enough to recognise demand and need.

“A good example is fruit picking, and hospitality. In terms of social care, this is an area where immigration is less of a concern than actual reform of the system itself to make it sustainable.

“We need a cross party agreement on a funded system like we do with the NHS. Achieving this is part of the Government’s agenda for next year.”

A spokesperson from Cumbria County Council, who run a large proportion of the county’s care homes, said: “The County Council has been carefully reviewing the potential for any impact as a result of EU exit for some time now and we have been working closely with our partners to manage any potential changes.”