Insecurity over Brexit has triggered a dash by Britons to secure second passports from other European countries.

Now it seems acts of persecution from 500 years ago are enabling a growing number of British Sephardic Jews to follow suit.

In the aftermath of the Leave vote it is yet to be decided what impact on travel not being part of the EU will have for British citizens.

The Irish government has reported a 40% increase in the number of Britons trying to keep a foot in Europe by applying for Irish passport.

In recent years the Portuguese and Spanish governments said Sephardic Jews would be eligible for passports as an "act of atonement" after the expulsion of tens of thousands of Sephardic Jews in the 15th century by crusading monarchs.


But after June's Brexit vote the Sephardic Jewish community have reported a marked increase in people trying to trace their family history so they can apply for a second passport.

British Jews seek second passport after Brexit

Charlotte Sebag-Montefiore is amongst a family group of 25 tracking her family tree.

She said: "I didn't vote for Brexit. I feel European and it's a gesture for Europe. I feel the emotional connection, that's one thing. I have ancestors who were burnt at the stake. I feel I want to make a gesture of solidarity with Europe.

"I am British, I was born here, I've always lived here. But I'm very grateful to Portuguese people for providing me with this opportunity.

"We don't know what the arrangements of Brexit will be and going to Europe will be easier if you have a European passport."

May: The best deal for UK will be best deal for Europe

The Sephardic community of north London keeps genealogy records dating back to the 17th century. Since the vote, they say, they're getting as many calls for help in a week as they used to get in a year.

Archivist Miriam Rodrigues-Pereira said: "If they can show that their parents and grandparents were married here under our auspices it's quite straightforward and we can follow them back.

"But we can't rush. People will have to wait. We're not going to certify anything that we can't find chapter and verse for."

Ms Rodrigues-Pereira, the archivist since the 1980s, added: "We're much busier than we were because of Brexit.

"People just want to know where they fit in and still have their links with Europe. It can be time-consuming. It's a bit of a detective story really."

She is 94 years old and of Portuguese heritage, but is one member of the community who won't be applying for a second passport.

"I don't feel I want to particularly," she said. "If I was travelling a lot or needed to go to Europe frequently I definitely would but I'm not doing that."

Image: King Felipe paid tribute in 2015 to the Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain

Rabbi Israel Elia of the Lauderdale Road Synagogue explained how history has left Jewish people with the sense it's wise to keep their options open.

He said: "We are a community which welcomes that kind of security because of our experience unfortunately - our expulsions from everywhere.

"Wherever we had a place we wanted to call home it wasn't long-lasting. In our psyche it was very much part of our plan to be able to go elsewhere.

"We like to have that extra safety net, to have that security because of our experience."