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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brexit: Theresa May scraps £65 fee for EU citizens | Brexit: Theresa May scraps £65 fee for EU citizens |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Theresa May has scrapped the £65 fee millions of EU citizens were going to have to pay to secure the right to continue living in the UK after Brexit. | Theresa May has scrapped the £65 fee millions of EU citizens were going to have to pay to secure the right to continue living in the UK after Brexit. |
| It came as the prime minister made a statement to MPs on how she plans to get them to back a Brexit deal. | It came as the prime minister made a statement to MPs on how she plans to get them to back a Brexit deal. |
| She said she would have further discussions with Northern Ireland's DUP and others on their concerns about the Irish backstop. | She said she would have further discussions with Northern Ireland's DUP and others on their concerns about the Irish backstop. |
| She will then "take the conclusions of these discussions back to the EU". | She will then "take the conclusions of these discussions back to the EU". |
| MPs are due to vote on any proposal next Tuesday, after the PM's original plan was defeated last Tuesday by a record-breaking 230 votes in the House of Commons. | MPs are due to vote on any proposal next Tuesday, after the PM's original plan was defeated last Tuesday by a record-breaking 230 votes in the House of Commons. |
| Millions of EU citizens living in the UK will have to apply for "settled status" to remain in Britain after Brexit. | Millions of EU citizens living in the UK will have to apply for "settled status" to remain in Britain after Brexit. |
| Applicants must have lived in the UK for five years and had been expected to pay a fee of £65 each. | Applicants must have lived in the UK for five years and had been expected to pay a fee of £65 each. |
| "Settled status" gives EU citizens the same access to health care and education after Britain leaves the EU. | "Settled status" gives EU citizens the same access to health care and education after Britain leaves the EU. |
| Mrs May told MPs she had listened to the concerns of EU citizens, through their campaign group the 3million, about the fees, and they would be waived when the scheme was launched on 30 March. | |
| The government has launched a pilot scheme this week for people to apply for leave to remain, through a smartphone app. | The government has launched a pilot scheme this week for people to apply for leave to remain, through a smartphone app. |
| Mrs May said anyone "who has, or will, apply during the pilot phase" will have their fee reimbursed, with further detail to be announced shortly. | Mrs May said anyone "who has, or will, apply during the pilot phase" will have their fee reimbursed, with further detail to be announced shortly. |
| The move was welcomed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. | The move was welcomed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. |
| In her statement to MPs, Mrs May again dismissed calls for another EU referendum, saying: "Our duty is to implement the decision of the first one. | In her statement to MPs, Mrs May again dismissed calls for another EU referendum, saying: "Our duty is to implement the decision of the first one. |
| "I fear a second referendum would set a difficult precedent that could have significant implications for how we handle referendums in this country. | "I fear a second referendum would set a difficult precedent that could have significant implications for how we handle referendums in this country. |
| "Not least, strengthening the hand of those campaigning to break-up our United Kingdom. | "Not least, strengthening the hand of those campaigning to break-up our United Kingdom. |
| "It would require an extension of Article 50. We would very likely have to return a new set of MEPs to the European Parliament in May. | "It would require an extension of Article 50. We would very likely have to return a new set of MEPs to the European Parliament in May. |
| "And I also believe that there has not yet been enough recognition of the way that a second referendum could damage social cohesion by undermining faith in our democracy." | "And I also believe that there has not yet been enough recognition of the way that a second referendum could damage social cohesion by undermining faith in our democracy." |
| Mr Corbyn accused her of being in "deep denial" about the scale of opposition to her "undeliverable" deal, which was rejected by 230 votes in a Commons vote last week. | |
| He said Labour would back an amendment next week that would rule out the "disaster" of a no-deal Brexit - and he challenged her to confirm that she would do that if MPs voted for it. | He said Labour would back an amendment next week that would rule out the "disaster" of a no-deal Brexit - and he challenged her to confirm that she would do that if MPs voted for it. |
| Mrs May attacked the Labour leader for refusing to take part in talks with her on the way forward. | Mrs May attacked the Labour leader for refusing to take part in talks with her on the way forward. |
| She promised to take a more "flexible, open and inclusive" approach to involving MPs, and the Scottish and Welsh governments, in negotiating a future relationship with the EU - once her Brexit deal has been approved. | |
| Labour's Yvette Cooper, who is part of a cross-party group planning a move to delay Brexit if there is no new deal with Brussels by 26 February, asked why MPs could not be given a greater say now. | |
| "Why not put to Parliament some votes on her red lines, including a customs union, otherwise how can any of us believe a word she says?" | |
| Mrs May said MPs would be able to table amendments to next Tuesday's vote, "which may reflect different views". | |
| She was asked by Tory Brexiteers and Northern Ireland's DUP, who she needs to convince to stand a chance of getting her deal through, to commit to seeking legally binding changes to the section of her EU withdrawal deal dealing with the backstop. | |
| She said she was exploring potential "movement" on the backstop that could secure the backing of a majority of MPs, in particular concerns that it could become permanent and threaten the integrity of the United Kingdom. | |
| Why does the Irish backstop matter? | |
| Under Mrs May's deal, if there is not a trade deal or other agreement between the UK and the EU when the transition period ends, the backstop kicks in. | |
| It would see Northern Ireland staying aligned to some rules of the EU single market. | |
| It would also involve a temporary single custom territory - effectively keeping the whole of the UK in the EU customs union - unless both the EU and UK agree it is no longer necessary. | |
| But this has been a huge issue for many Conservative MPs and the DUP, who have supported Theresa May's government since the 2017 election. | |
| Removing or amending the backstop could provide Mrs May with enough backing from Brexiteer Tory MPs and the DUP to get an agreement passed. | |
| How could MPs take control of Brexit? | |
| Theresa May's government is engaged in a battle with MPs over who controls the Brexit process, after her deal with the EU was defeated by a record-breaking 230 votes last Tuesday. | |
| MPs are trying to use various Parliamentary tactics to tell Mrs May what to do - or force through alternatives to her Brexit deal. | |
| They can do this by tabling amendments - suggested changes - to a government motion, which is due to be voted on next Tuesday. Or by proposing new laws of their own. | |
| One group of MPs, headed by Labour's Yvette Cooper, with backing from Remainer Conservative MPs, is planning to table a bill that would delay the UK's planned departure date from the EU if the government is not able to get its deal through by 26 February. | |
| Private Members' Bills - laws proposed by MPs who are not in the government - can be passed but there's normally only very limited time to debate them. The government usually controls the agenda - what gets debated in Parliament. | |
| Some MPs now want to suspend the normal rules to allow time to debate and vote on a bill that would rule out a no-deal Brexit. | |
| That might not be enough though. If the bill will involve spending money it also needs a "money resolution". That has to be proposed by the government. | |
| So MPs face another obstacle if they want to take control of the Brexit process. |