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| Philip Hammond to test water for deal on rights of EU citizens in UK | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, says he will hold informal talks with EU foreign ministers next Sunday to test whether a deal is possible on guaranteeing reciprocal rights for EU citizens in the UK, and UK citizens in the EU. | The UK foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, says he will hold informal talks with EU foreign ministers next Sunday to test whether a deal is possible on guaranteeing reciprocal rights for EU citizens in the UK, and UK citizens in the EU. |
| But he also warned the issue was likely to be “a big moving part” in the UK’s Brexit negotiation, and would be one of the most politically sensitive issues. | But he also warned the issue was likely to be “a big moving part” in the UK’s Brexit negotiation, and would be one of the most politically sensitive issues. |
| The UK government has been under intense pressure from Conservative backbenchers and others to give a unilateral guarantee that the rights of EU migrants in the UK will not be damaged at the end of the Brexit talks. | The UK government has been under intense pressure from Conservative backbenchers and others to give a unilateral guarantee that the rights of EU migrants in the UK will not be damaged at the end of the Brexit talks. |
| Giving evidence to the foreign affairs select committee, Hammond again said he could not give such a commitment and blamed “Brussels bureaucrats” for declaring there could be no informal Brexit negotiations until the UK had triggered article 50, the formal process by which it notifies the EU of its intention to leave. | Giving evidence to the foreign affairs select committee, Hammond again said he could not give such a commitment and blamed “Brussels bureaucrats” for declaring there could be no informal Brexit negotiations until the UK had triggered article 50, the formal process by which it notifies the EU of its intention to leave. |
| In practice a total ban on informal talks is unenforceable, but Hammond will have to tread carefully not to overstep the commission’s attempt to block such talks. | In practice a total ban on informal talks is unenforceable, but Hammond will have to tread carefully not to overstep the commission’s attempt to block such talks. |
| “I would not recommend a unilateral commitment by the British government before we have received any reassurance of a reciprocal approach to UK nationals in other EU countries,” he said, adding: “It’s Brussels that has said until article 50 is served, we can’t start discussions. | “I would not recommend a unilateral commitment by the British government before we have received any reassurance of a reciprocal approach to UK nationals in other EU countries,” he said, adding: “It’s Brussels that has said until article 50 is served, we can’t start discussions. |
| “If the bureaucrats in Brussels would say today we are happy to sit down and talk to the UK government about a deal that assures the mutual rights of citizens in each other’s countries, I’m sure the UK would be happy to engage in this process.” | “If the bureaucrats in Brussels would say today we are happy to sit down and talk to the UK government about a deal that assures the mutual rights of citizens in each other’s countries, I’m sure the UK would be happy to engage in this process.” |
| Crispin Blunt, chair of the committee, told the foreign secretary his position was “wholly misconceived” and called on ministers to give immediate assurances to EU nationals resident in the UK. Conservative committee member John Baron said Hammond seemed to be driven by a “Project Fear in denial” attitude which prevented any optimistic view of Britain’s future. | Crispin Blunt, chair of the committee, told the foreign secretary his position was “wholly misconceived” and called on ministers to give immediate assurances to EU nationals resident in the UK. Conservative committee member John Baron said Hammond seemed to be driven by a “Project Fear in denial” attitude which prevented any optimistic view of Britain’s future. |
| Hammond said he did not expect article 50 to be triggered until the end of the year at the earliest, and, like the Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin, said it was a matter for the prime minister and not parliament to trigger Article 50. | Hammond said he did not expect article 50 to be triggered until the end of the year at the earliest, and, like the Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin, said it was a matter for the prime minister and not parliament to trigger Article 50. |
| Hammond exasperated Blunt by revealing that no contingency planning for Brexit had been undertaken across government, apart from a plan to deal with a crisis in the financial markets. | Hammond exasperated Blunt by revealing that no contingency planning for Brexit had been undertaken across government, apart from a plan to deal with a crisis in the financial markets. |
| He said there had been a conscious decision not to undertake any planning because there were fears any such plans might leak and then be seen as unwarranted interference. | He said there had been a conscious decision not to undertake any planning because there were fears any such plans might leak and then be seen as unwarranted interference. |
| He also confirmed discussions were under way about the UK abandoning its planned presidency of the EU in the second half of the year. The UK still wanted to appoint a new UK commissioner for the EU, but this was unlikely to start until the autumn, and it would be necessary to nominate someone who was not provocative for the European parliament. | He also confirmed discussions were under way about the UK abandoning its planned presidency of the EU in the second half of the year. The UK still wanted to appoint a new UK commissioner for the EU, but this was unlikely to start until the autumn, and it would be necessary to nominate someone who was not provocative for the European parliament. |