Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens' Rights Agreements

For the Specialised Committee on Citizens' Rights, see Brexit withdrawal agreement § Specialised Committee on Citizens' Rights.
Not to be confused with Independent monitoring board or Independent Monitoring Commission.
Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens' Rights Agreements
Welsh: Awdurdod Monitro Annibynnol ar gyfer y Cytundebau Hawliau Dinasyddion
Non-departmental public body overview
Formed2020 (2020)
Jurisdiction
HeadquartersSwansea, Wales
Employees60-70
Minister responsible
Non-departmental public body executives
  • Nicole Lappin, Chair
  • Miranda Biddle, Chief Executive
WebsiteOfficial website

The Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens' Rights Agreements (IMA; Welsh: Awdurdod Monitro Annibynnol ar gyfer y Cytundebau Hawliau Dinasyddion)[1] is a body corporate set up in the United Kingdom by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020[2][3] to monitor the functioning of the provisions of the Brexit withdrawal agreement relating to citizens' rights, and to protect the rights of European Union citizens in the UK.[4][5]

Based in Swansea, Wales,[6] it is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice.[7]

Role of the IMA

When the United Kingdom made the decision to exit the European Union (EU) a formal agreement was established to protect citizens whom the exit would impact upon. As part of that, we have been established to make sure the agreement is being properly upheld. In specific terms, the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements (IMA) protects the rights of EU and EEA EFTA citizens, and their family members, in the UK and Gibraltar. Essentially, the IMA helps people from EU and EEA EFTA countries get the same rights as they did before the UK left the EU. The IMA are responsible for making sure that UK public bodies are respecting the rights of EU and EEA EFTA citizens and their family members. Public bodies can include:[8]

  • government departments (such as the Home Office or HM Revenue and Customs)
  • devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
  • government agencies (such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)
  • local councils
  • non-departmental public bodies (such as NHS England or the Health and Safety Executive)
  • public corporations (such as the BBC or the Pension Protection Fund)[8]

Many of the organisations the IMA monitor are on the list of departments, agencies and public bodies on located on www.gov.uk. The IMA are also responsible for monitoring public bodies in Gibraltar.[8]

Enforcement & Investigations

Home Office

In October 2022, IMA took the Home Office to court, arguing that it is against the withdrawal agreement for the government to require EU citizens to apply for settled status upon the expiry of their pre-settled status.[9]

Structure

The Independent Monitoring Authority costs of a non-executive board of six directors representing each governed area represented in the Withdrawal Agreement.

Portrait Name Post held Appointed Until
Vacant Chairman
Leo O'Reilly Interim-Chairman 7 December 2023
Punam Birly Non-executive Director 7 December 2025
Ronnie Alexander Non-executive Director 16 March 2024
Marcus Killick Non-executive Director 7 December 2023
Joyce Cullen Non-executive Director 9 February 2024

All non-executive directors are appointed by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. [10]

Day-to-day manage is delegated to the Chief Executive of the IMA who has overall responsibility for the three directorates.

Portrait Name Post held Post Held Since Tenure
Miranda Biddle Chief Executive Officer July 2023 1 year, 168 days
Andrew Bagley Director of Governance and Corporate Services September 2020 4 years, 136 days
Rhys Davies General Counsel November 2020 4 years, 88 days
Pam Everett Director of Operational Delivery November 2020 4 years, 106 days

Former executive and non-executive directors

Portrait Name Post held Start End Tenure
Dr Kathryn Chamberlain Chief Executive Officer 2020 2023 3 years, 180 days
Sir Ashley Fox Chairman 2020 2023 2 years, 281 days

References

  1. ^ "Memorandwm Cydsyniad Deddfwriaethol: Bil yr Undeb Ewropeaidd (Cytundeb Ymadael)" [Legislative Consent Memorandum: European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill] (PDF) (in Welsh). Senedd Cymru. 3 January 2020. p. 5. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ "European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, section 15".
  3. ^ "New Independent Monitoring Authority goes live on 31 December 2020". GOV.UK. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Home Office sued by watchdog set up to protect post-Brexit rights of EU citizens". the Guardian. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  5. ^ "What is the Independent Monitoring Authority?". UK in a changing Europe. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Contact Details". Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens' Rights Agreements. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens' Rights Agreements". GOV.UK.
  8. ^ a b c "What we do". Independent Monitoring Authority. Retrieved 8 March 2023. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
  9. ^ "Home Office taken to court over 'pre-settled status' rules for EU citizens". the Guardian. 14 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Independent Monitoring Authority chair and members appointments". GOV.UK. Retrieved 22 March 2023.


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