The Life That Freedom of Movement Gave Us

Ten years after the EU referendum, I’ve written a deeply personal essay for the Spanish cultural magazine Jot Down about what freedom of movement made possible – and what its loss has meant for my family.

It traces a journey that began with a childhood visit to Seville, led me to study Spanish literature, live in Andalusia, marry in Vejer de la Frontera, and raise our two daughters in the province of Cádiz. Above all, it’s a reflection on how a legal and political right often discussed in the abstract can shape an entire life.

The piece is not simply about Brexit. It’s about belonging, identity, language, culture and home. Looking back, I argue that freedom of movement was, in effect, a passport to another life.

Read the Full Piece for Free in English or Spanish at Jot Down