Alberto Costa

Alberto Costa is a former solicitor at the Treasury’s Solicitor Department. He originally failed to be elected MP for Angus in 2010. In 2016, Costa became a PSP in the Scotland Office, but was asked to resign in 2019 after tabling an amendment to protect EU citizens’ rights. “I don’t give a stuff about being a junior aide. It’s about the rights of five million people,” he said, following his resignation. Despite the government eventually approving the amendment, he was nonetheless sacked for breaking convention that members of the government’s payroll shouldn’t table amendments to government bills. Costa has continued to campaign for EU citizens’ rights from the backbenches. “It is inconceivable that a British Government, let alone a Conservative Government, could allow the rights of British nationals working, living and studying in the EU to vaporise overnight on October 31,” said Costa, citing the experiences of his mother. Costa voted to remain in 2016, while 58 per cent of his constituents voted Leave. Despite this, Costa did not rebel against the prorogation of parliament in September 2019. In 2020, he joined the privileges, standards and Scottish affairs committees.