British Prime Minister Theresa May is sending a personal email message to more than 100,000 EU expats in the UK to reassure them of their post-Brexit status.
In the message, she will explain that she never meant to use them as leverage in talks with other EU leaders and promises they can stay in the UK after the country leaves the EU in March 2019.
Downing Street will send the open letter to 107,000 EU expats who have signed up with the Home Office to receive regular Brexit updates.
What the letter says
“I have been clear throughout this process that citizens’ rights are my first priority. And I know my fellow leaders have the same objective: to safeguard the rights of EU nationals living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU. I want to give reassurance that this issue remains a priority, that we are united on the key principles, and that the focus over the weeks to come will be delivering an agreement that works for people here in the UK, and people in the EU,” says May.
“When we started this process, some accused us of treating EU nationals as bargaining chips. Nothing could have been further from the truth. EU citizens who have made their lives in the UK have made a huge contribution to our country. And we want them and their families to stay. I couldn’t be clearer: EU citizens living lawfully in the UK today will be able to stay.”
“But this agreement will not only provide certainty about residence, but also healthcare, pensions and other benefits. It will mean that EU citizens who have paid into the UK system – and UK nationals into the system of an EU27 country – can benefit from what they’ve put in. It will enable families who have built their lives together in the EU and UK to stay together. And it will provide guarantees that the rights of those UK nationals currently living in the EU, and EU citizens currently living in the UK, will not diverge over time.”
These are meaningless words. No action followed, and it was her who introduced unlawful rules on acquiring Permanent Residence, and therefore citizenship. Don’t trust May. She has a history of u-turns. She can be gone by tomorrow. she also has a history of turning back on Syrian refugee orphans, AFTER the deal was made. This is a PR stunt to save her face in front of EU leaders.