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'The chink of light I've been looking for': readers on 'associate citizenship'

<span>Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters</span>
Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

‘I wholeheartedly endorse this idea’

I wholeheartedly endorse this idea and would be prepared to pay a reasonable fee to continue to retain my freedom of movement throughout the EU. Revoking my EU citizenship as a result of Brexit is an unfair curtailment of my rights. John Catron, 65, education consultant, York

‘This is the chink of light I’ve been looking for’

I am all for it. Losing freedom of movement is one of the most gutting things about Brexit. I’ve been trying desperately to find a sliver of Irish ancestry to get an Irish passport in order keep my freedom of movement. I’ve not had much luck unfortunately. Added to that, my boyfriend is Irish so if we do decide to move to Europe, it’s highly likely that will hold us back. Also, it’s a shame that UK students could be studying alongside European students and not have the same post-degree work opportunities. Everything about Brexit is incredibly depressing, this is the chink of light I’ve been looking for. Henrietta Rowlatt, 40, radio producer, Manchester

‘I think it’s essential to continue European integration and mix cultures’

I would be ecstatic to have it as I will be devastated to lose it when the transition period ends. I think it is essential to continue European integration and mix cultures to end racial division and promote unity, as well as offering chances to live study and travel across Europe. I think it’s important to create a solitary European entity, abandoning tiny borders and worn out traditions from the past and bringing everyone under one common modern item – being European. Jake Cocksedge, 20, student, Wimbotsham, Norfolk

‘I’m all in favour’

I’m all in favour. I’ve lived and worked in Spain since 1991 and was fortunately able to vote in June 2016, due to having worked a couple of months in the UK in 2008. Many of my friends here were denied a vote by the 15-year rule. How is it fair or democratic that they should be denied freedom of movement because of an election they couldn’t even participate in? My Spanish partner and I enjoy travelling a lot and it is going to be just ridiculous for us to have to pass through different passport controls. The fact that she can continue to live anywhere she wants in the EU, while I can’t due to something I bitterly oppose is stupid. Paul Giblin, 55, working in Madrid

‘Any small actions we can take to redress the balance of Brits in Europe and Europeans in the UK not being able to vote, would be welcome’

As someone who voted to join Europe all those years ago and also voted to remain in the recent, extremely ill-advised referendum, I’m all for maintaining whatever links we can with Europe whilst we continue to to try and extricate ourselves from the current, populist, political mess for which we are solely responsible. I seem to remember thinking at the time that, however shameful the debate leading up to the referendum was, the fact that so many of the Brits living/working in Europe and all of the Europeans living /working in the UK were excluded from voting was even more shameful – so any small actions we can take to redress the balance would be welcome. Iain Buchanan, 70+, retired, Edinburgh

‘I want my children to have the same access I enjoyed growing up’

This would perhaps go some way towards appeasing people who voted remain. I will never understand nor condone leaving the EU, but if I could have the option to apply for associate citizenship and maintain at least some of the benefits of EU membership then I would feel less as if something had been stolen from me. It would be optional, so people in favour of a hard Brexit will not be ‘forced’ to be part of the EU, but equally I won’t be ‘forced’ to be entirely disassociated from something I wish we could stay a part of. I want my children to have the same access that I enjoyed growing up. Bethany Woodcock, 31, stay at home mum, Kent

‘We always had conviction that the people of Europe would be kinder to us than our country of birth’

It is a wonderful idea! We British in Europe now find ourselves exiled and effectively without statehood thanks to Brexit. We always had conviction that the people of Europe would be kinder to us than our country of birth. The Europeans have been universally kind to us over the past three years, expressing fear and sympathy for us in our situation. Hilary Kirkby, 74, retired, France

‘People like me were born EU citizens and it feels unfair to just lose our rights overnight’

I think it’s a great idea. Forty eight per cent voted to remain in the EU and keep their freedom of movement rights. If the EU offered associated citizenship it would allow those who wish to keep the rights to do so. People like me were born EU citizens and it feels unfair to just lose our rights overnight. Edward Thomas, 24, unemployed, Crewe

‘Maintaining close links with Europe is an essential bond to so many of us’

I always valued our links with other European countries and am devastated that Britain is no longer a contributing member of this economic and cultural union. I would love to be able to retain my European citizenship. I desperately hope that some arrangement can be made to achieve this. So many of us did not vote to rip ourselves out of the EU and think that the UK government is making a very damaging mistake. Maintaining close links with Europe is an essential bond to so many of us. We feel no one is listening to us in this country, so thank you Sadiq Khan and Guy Verhofstadt. Liz Jones, retired teacher, Wales