May urged to guarantee EU nationals’ rights before Brexit talks

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Theresa May has come under new pressure from Eurosceptics in her own party to guarantee now the rights of EU nationals living in the UK, pre-empting the formal start of Brexit talks this month.High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our T&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. https://www.ft.com/content/eb51167a-017f-11e7-ace0-1ce02ef0def9

The Commons Brexit committee, which includes prominent Leave campaigners Michael Gove and Dominic Raab, unanimously backed the report that said that EU nationals should not be used as “bargaining chips”. The report also denounced as “not fit for purpose” an 85-page form by which EU nationals can apply for permanent residence after having lived in the UK for five years. The MPs say it is “too complex and onerous” to be used to clarify the status of up to 3m people and calls on ministers to streamline the system if it is to be the basis for enabling EU citizens to stay in the UK after Brexit. Hilary Benn, the Labour MP who is chairman of the committee, said of EU citizens: “They did not have a vote in the referendum, but the result has left them living under a cloud of uncertainty.High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our T&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. 

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“They are understandably concerned about their right to remain, and their future rights to access education and healthcare.” Theresa May has said that she intends to guarantee those rights but only after British citizens living elsewhere in the EU have been given the same protections — those discussions will take place in Brexit talks. However the House of Lords has amended the “Article 50 bill” that will allow Mrs May to start Brexit to include immediate guarantees for EU citizens — the government wants to overturn the change when it returns to the Commons. The fact that a cross-party committee of MPs has endorsed the Lords’ position could complicate life for Mrs May, although government officials still believe the amendment will be overturned. The Lords will this week vote on a separate amendment intended to ensure that parliament has a “meaningful vote” on the final terms of whatever Brexit deal Mrs May secures.