Thirty Commonwealth War Graves Commission staff have received three weeks notice to make the life-changing decision to either return home or lose up to half of their income.

Despite the UK deciding to leave the EU over four years ago, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have wait until the final days before Brexit to inform staff about contract changes after the 31 December.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission staff look after the final resting place of 1.7 million Commonwealth soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars. The war graves are predominately in France and Belgium, including the Somme, Ypres and Passchendaele, Normandy and Dunkirk.

Grahame Morris MP, Chair of the Unite the Union Parliamentary Group, said:

“This is a disgraceful way to treat loyal staff, who care and tend to the war graves of people who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms and rights.

The Government are running continuous advertisements to tell business to prepare for Brexit. It is a scandal that they do not listen to their own guidance, with disastrous consequences for people employed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The Government should treat people with more respect than giving employees a matter of days to make life-changing decisions. The incompetent handling and maladministration must be questioned and scrutinised, and employees should not be left yet again to pay the price for government incompetence.”