The Government has pleaded for “valued” EU citizens to stay in the UK after Brexit amid warnings of an exodus of skilled workers.

Figures released last month showed that 122,000 Europeans left Britain in the year to March, sparking concern over the impact of a “Brexodus” on the economy, universities and public services.

As European residents prepared to protest outside the Houses of Parliament demanding reassurances over their rights after Britain leaves the EU, the immigration minister released a public appeal.

Brandon Lewis said EU citizens had an “overwhelmingly positive impact on the social, economic and cultural fabric of the UK”.

“They bring with them ideas, innovation and skills which our employers and businesses rely on – from our universities to our farms to our financial institutions,” he wrote in an article for The Times.

“Since the referendum, the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and I have been clear that we want EU citizens in the UK to stay and have made protecting their rights a top priority.

“That is why in June the government outlined its offer to do just that. We confirmed that no-one living here lawfully will be asked to leave when we exit the EU and they will have a period to make an application to remain here.”

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In a direct appeal to the many Europeans considering leaving the UK ahead of Brexit, Mr Lewis added: “We want you to stay… the Government recognises how vital you are to this country, we are committed to protecting your rights.”

The conciliatory message struck a markedly different tone to last month, when ministers celebrated a drop in net migration driven by departing EU citizens.

At the time, Mr Lewis hailed the figures as “encouraging”, with the Government continuing controversial plans to cut net migration to a target of 100,000 a year.

But the Home Office promoted his latest article in an email to EU citizens, responding to protests while directing them to advice on their status.

Tanja Bueltmann, a history professor at Northumbria University, said the email – sent to anyone who signed up to receive Government updates – “took the biscuit”.

“If they really meant they want us to stay, they would have guaranteed our rights fully on 24 June 2016,” she told The Independent.

“We’re over a year later and the rhetoric remains the same. It all sounds very nice but I don’t see the action, I see the exact opposite.”

Prof Bueltmann said leaked Home Office documents had worsened fears by revealing plans to target low-paid EU migrants in a crackdown seeing Europeans stripped of their rights to bring relatives into Britain, while the Government could have powers to refuse entry and the right to work.

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“The aim of that policy document is to create a hostile environment,” Prof Bueltmann said.

“It might be for people coming in the future but it still sends a message to all of us.

“Citizens are leaving because they’re simply fed up – how long would you put up with this if you have other options?”

Mr Lewis claimed he had personally sought to reassure concerned Europeans and said that anyone living in the UK before an unspecified cut-off date will receive settled status giving them the same access to education, healthcare, benefits, pensions and social housing as Brits.

“EU citizens living here should be able to continue their lives as before,” he added.

“However, we have also been clear about agreeing a reciprocal deal to protect the more than 1 million UK nationals living and working in the EU.”

No agreement has yet been reached in floundering Brexit talks, which are now the subject of a parliamentary inquiry over the Government’s lack of progress.

(REUTERS (REUTERS)

Campaigners have been unconvinced by the protections announced so far, with some rejecting the “settled status” option and arguing it would strip them of equal family reunification rights and the ability to leave the UK and return after two years.

Activists at a protest in Westminster on Wednesday said they wanted their rights guaranteed for life under the European Court of Justice to prevent a future government rolling back assurances.

Protesters called for a “free and simple registration process” ensuring the 3.2 million EU citizens in the UK and 1.2 million British expats in the EU retain their current status for life.

Nicolas Hatton, who founded The 3 Million campaign group, said Europeans felt their rights were “under threat”.

The Frenchman, who has lived in Britain for 22 years, said it was “wrong to move the goalposts after the match has started for those of us who are already living and working here”.

"We came to Britain and made it our home. We paid taxes, we started businesses, we started families,” he added.

"All we want is exactly what we have now. We're not asking for anything new or anything special."