Inside Spain: Sanchez didn't kill the 'British expat dream', Brexit did

"Both articles do a pretty good job covering recent and not so recent proposals to limit property purchases by non-residents in Spain at a regional and national level, as well as mentioning other anti-mass tourism measures touted or introduced. The two pieces are also right to illustrate that a part of Spanish society, as well the ruling Socialists, partly blame affluent foreigners for the housing crisis locals are facing."

"What is wrong is to claim that Spain dismantled the British expat dream or that the country has turned on British expats. No, Brexit dismantled the British expat dream and Brexit turned on Brits abroad - residents and swallows included."

British tabloids have repeatedly published exaggerated or false claims about Spain, from fines for urinating in the sea to alleged tourist bans. Recently, major broadsheets like The Telegraph and The I Paper claimed Spain is targeting British expats and dismantling their property ownership dreams. While these articles accurately cover Spanish proposals to limit non-resident property purchases and anti-mass tourism measures, they misattribute responsibility. Spanish authorities and society do blame affluent foreigners for housing crises, but the fundamental issue is Brexit itself. Brexit restricted UK nationals' residency rights and changed their legal status in Spain, not Spanish policies specifically targeting British retirees.

Read at www.thelocal.es