And in Germany, it would be illegal to ask unless it was specifically relevant to the job – and courts have specifically decided that you can lie if you're asked and it's not relevant. The US tends to really overreach on that sort of thing, but it's not universal. It may even be that picking contracts in the EU would be useful.

> It may even be that picking contracts in the EU would be useful.

After Brexit he'd need a work permit for that, and I assume convictions are a factor with those.

One only needs a work permit if physically in the EU country, not working remotely from the UK.

Thanks - this is a very good point and looks hopeful for the OP. To the OP I suggest to confirm this with a lawyer; if it's indeed not criminal and the worst outcome of a lie is termination and a civil lawsuit (which requires proving damages) it might be worth betting on it.

The advantage of being an ex-lawyer is I do know this to be a criminal offence!

Fraud by false representation is a thing in the UK so I suspect that it might depend on the circumstances and the seriousness of the case but IANAL.

People describe anything and everything they don't agree with as 'fraud'.