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UK may impose cut-off date on EU migrants, says Brexit minister UK may impose cut-off date on EU migrants, says Brexit minister
(35 minutes later)
EU citizens may be blocked from remaining in the UK permanently even if they arrive before the country leaves the EU, David Davis has said.EU citizens may be blocked from remaining in the UK permanently even if they arrive before the country leaves the EU, David Davis has said.
The newly appointed Brexit minister said that if there a large number of EU migrants entered the UK before the withdrawal from the bloc was completed, they may not be granted leave to remain in the country. The newly appointed Brexit minister said that if a large number of EU migrants enter the UK before the withdrawal from the bloc is completed, they may not be granted leave to remain in the country.
“We may have to deal with that. There are a variety of possibilities. We may have to say that the right to indefinite leave to remain protection only applies before a certain date. But you have to make those judgments on reality, not speculation,” Davis told the Mail on Sunday.“We may have to deal with that. There are a variety of possibilities. We may have to say that the right to indefinite leave to remain protection only applies before a certain date. But you have to make those judgments on reality, not speculation,” Davis told the Mail on Sunday.
Britain is bound to observe the freedom of movement rules of the EU, which require it to grant migrants from European countries the right to live and work in the UK, until it has formally exited the union.Britain is bound to observe the freedom of movement rules of the EU, which require it to grant migrants from European countries the right to live and work in the UK, until it has formally exited the union.
Davis said he was committed to securing a good deal for any Brits living in EU countries, as well as the approximately 3 million EU migrants currently living in the UK. “We mustn’t, if we can possibly avoid it, penalise them,” he said on Sky’s Murnaghan on Sunday programme.Davis said he was committed to securing a good deal for any Brits living in EU countries, as well as the approximately 3 million EU migrants currently living in the UK. “We mustn’t, if we can possibly avoid it, penalise them,” he said on Sky’s Murnaghan on Sunday programme.
“Number one, I want to see a generous settlement for the people who are here already – they didn’t pick this circumstance, we did,” he told Murnaghan. “We want to do that at the same time that we get a similarly generous settlement for Brits living in the EU.“Number one, I want to see a generous settlement for the people who are here already – they didn’t pick this circumstance, we did,” he told Murnaghan. “We want to do that at the same time that we get a similarly generous settlement for Brits living in the EU.
“Some people have said if we make a very generous settlement, as we intend to do, we might see a rush of people. Let’s deal with that issue when we come to it. One way to do that is that only people who arrive before a certain date will get this protection.”“Some people have said if we make a very generous settlement, as we intend to do, we might see a rush of people. Let’s deal with that issue when we come to it. One way to do that is that only people who arrive before a certain date will get this protection.”
Davis would not be drawn about when a potential cut-off date could be, saying that to give a date would cause a surge. However, he reiterated the intention of the government to trigger article 50 early in 2017, meaning the UK would formally exit the EU in early 2019.Davis would not be drawn about when a potential cut-off date could be, saying that to give a date would cause a surge. However, he reiterated the intention of the government to trigger article 50 early in 2017, meaning the UK would formally exit the EU in early 2019.
The government is trying to paint a hopeful picture of Britain’s future post-Brexit, and received a boost on Saturday when Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, called for a free-trade deal with Britain as soon as possible. The government is trying to paint a hopeful picture of Britain’s future post-Brexit, and received a boost on Saturday when Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, called for a free trade deal with Britain as soon as possible.
After a phone call with Turnbull, Theresa May said: “I have been very clear that this government will make a success of our exit from the European Union. One of the ways we will do this is by embracing the opportunities to strike free trade deals with our partners across the globe. It is very encouraging that one of our closest international partners is already seeking to establish just such a deal.After a phone call with Turnbull, Theresa May said: “I have been very clear that this government will make a success of our exit from the European Union. One of the ways we will do this is by embracing the opportunities to strike free trade deals with our partners across the globe. It is very encouraging that one of our closest international partners is already seeking to establish just such a deal.
“This shows that we can make Brexit work for Britain, and the new secretary of state for international trade will be taking this forward in the weeks and months ahead. Britain is an outward-looking and globally minded country, and we will build on this as we forge a new role for ourselves in the world.”“This shows that we can make Brexit work for Britain, and the new secretary of state for international trade will be taking this forward in the weeks and months ahead. Britain is an outward-looking and globally minded country, and we will build on this as we forge a new role for ourselves in the world.”
Trade deals with Britain are currently negotiated within the EU bloc, and Britain is not able to sign any trade deals until it has formally exited the EU. However, May has asked the international trade secretary, Liam Fox, to begin exploring options with Australia.Trade deals with Britain are currently negotiated within the EU bloc, and Britain is not able to sign any trade deals until it has formally exited the EU. However, May has asked the international trade secretary, Liam Fox, to begin exploring options with Australia.
Fox claimed that he was “scoping about a dozen deals outside the EU to be ready for when we leave”.Fox claimed that he was “scoping about a dozen deals outside the EU to be ready for when we leave”.
He told the Sunday Times: “We’ve already had a number of countries saying we’d love to do a trade deal with the world’s fifth biggest economy without having to deal with the other 27 members of the EU.”He told the Sunday Times: “We’ve already had a number of countries saying we’d love to do a trade deal with the world’s fifth biggest economy without having to deal with the other 27 members of the EU.”