Government warned of language crisis after Brexit

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Modern Languages has warned the government of a possible language crisis once Brexit occurs.

The country currently relies on the EU to negotiate trade deals but this will no longer be possible once the UK has left the Union, the group says. Trade talks after leaving the EU will need more UK officials with language skills.

The group say lack of language ability loses the UK an estimated 3.5 per cent of economic performance.

APPG co-chair Baroness Coussins said: "Brexit must make the UK's language skills a top policy issue.

"Language skills are vital for our exports, education, public services and diplomacy."

Baroness Coussins called for "a national plan to ensure the UK produces the linguists we need to become a world leader in global free trade and on the international stage."

The group has called for the UK to continue with the Erasmus+ scheme, where young people study, work volunteer and train abroad in Europe.

They also want the government to guarantee residency status for EU nationals already living in the UK, and set up a national plan to boost language education from primary school through to post-graduate level.