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Theresa May abandons another Brexit red line by agreeing EU citizens arriving during transition period can stay Theresa May abandons another Brexit red line by agreeing EU citizens arriving during transition period can stay
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has abandoned another of her Brexit “red lines”, by agreeing that EU citizens who arrive during her planned transition period can settle in the UK.Theresa May has abandoned another of her Brexit “red lines”, by agreeing that EU citizens who arrive during her planned transition period can settle in the UK.
The Prime Minister had vowed to fight Brussels’ demand for residency rights be granted to its nationals who move in the period - of about two years – when the UK will still abide by EU rules.The Prime Minister had vowed to fight Brussels’ demand for residency rights be granted to its nationals who move in the period - of about two years – when the UK will still abide by EU rules.
Last month, she insisted the rights offered had to be “different” because those people would be “coming to a UK they know will be outside the EU”.Last month, she insisted the rights offered had to be “different” because those people would be “coming to a UK they know will be outside the EU”.
But Downing Street has now quietly dropped that stance, after the EU warned it would prevent talks beginning on a future trade deal.But Downing Street has now quietly dropped that stance, after the EU warned it would prevent talks beginning on a future trade deal.
An announcement, posted on the Government’s website, said: “EU citizens and their family members will be able to move to the UK during the implementation period on the same basis as they do today”.An announcement, posted on the Government’s website, said: “EU citizens and their family members will be able to move to the UK during the implementation period on the same basis as they do today”.
The move is certain to further enrage hard Brexit supporters on the Tory benches who had insisted the EU’s proposal for the transition period was unacceptable.The move is certain to further enrage hard Brexit supporters on the Tory benches who had insisted the EU’s proposal for the transition period was unacceptable.
  But it was welcomed by the British Chambers of Commerce, who said business leaders would be “pleased to finally have answers” on the status of EU workers.
more follows “Business will be pleased that during a time of record-high labour shortages, the government is showing a pragmatic approach to immigration,” said Adam Marshall, the BCC’s director general.
“Firms will want to see this realism embedded in future migration policy when the UK leaves the EU.”
The U-turn means arrivals during the transition will be allowed to apply for “settled status” to remain and given time to earn the five years’ residency in order to qualify.
However, they will have to pass a minimum income threshold test, which is currently set at £18,600 for non-EU citizens.
The Prime Minister’s objection to granting residency rights for arrivals after Brexit Day, in March 2019, had also held up a streamlined application system for EU nationals already in the UK.
A digital app is planned to replace the current, daunting 85-page form which millions of EU citizens would otherwise be required to fill in in order register to stay.
It had to be delayed when the Prime Minister insisted on different rules for later arrivals, because the Home Office was faced with the headache of operating two different systems.