Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have sought legal advice on whether the withdrawal of the UK from the EU automatically leads to the loss by British nationals of EU citizenship and the consequent loss of the rights and freedoms deriving from that citizenship; and if so, what was that advice.

The Government has considered this matter carefully. The EU treaty provisions state only citizens of EU Member States are able to hold EU citizenship.

Therefore, when the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union, British nationals will no longer hold EU citizenship, unless they hold dual nationality with another EU Member State.