01 February 2018 - No Deal for EU Citizens Coming to the UK After Brexit
No deal for EU citizens coming to UK during Brexit transition – PM
Jessica Elgot, Anushka Asthana and Daniel Boffey (The Guardian, 31/01/2018)
Theresa May has sparked a new clash with Brussels by saying that EU citizens who arrive during the post-Brexit transition period must not have the same rights as those who came before.
The prime minister’s remarks set her on course for a major skirmish with officials in Brussels, who have offered a “status quo” transition period until December 2020, including free movement and citizens’ rights for those who settle in the UK during that period.
Rules for new EU migrants could include mandatory work permits, requirements to register on arrival and restrictions on access to benefits, which would not apply to EU citizens who moved to the UK before Brexit.
Theresa May promises free movement of EU citizens will end on Brexit day
Gordon Rayner and Steven Swinford (The Telegraph, 31/01/2018)
Theresa May has promised that freedom of movement for EU citizens coming to Britain will end on Brexit day in March 2019.
Brussels had insisted free movement must continue to the last day of any transition period, meaning EU citizens would be free to settle in Britain until at least the end of 2020.
But the Prime Minister has made it clear that changing the rules on migration as soon as Britain leaves the EU is a must for her in negotiations over the transition period, which begin next week.
Theresa May clinging onto power as she performs embarrassing U-turn on Brexit analysis
Michael Settle (The Herald Scotland, 01/02/2018)
Theresa May is clinging onto power today after a minister openly questioned her Brexit policy and she was forced into an embarrassing U-turn on releasing a downbeat economic analysis about Britain’s EU withdrawal.
As the Conservative Party appears increasingly torn on whether to back her or sack her, the Tory-supporting magazine, The Spectator, challenged the Prime Minister to “lead or go”.
In recent days, siren voices against Mrs May have been growing louder as it is suggested the number of Conservative MPs calling for her to stand down is perilously close to the 48 needed to spark a leadership contest.
May forced to release damaging Brexit analysis
Francis Elliott (The Times, 31/01/2018)
Theresa May has been forced to release an official economic analysis claiming that any Brexit outcome will damage the UK economy despite saying it would be “wrong” to publish a document that would undermine talks.
Downing Street is also struggling to explain why it disciplined a minister for saying the leaked figures may have to prompt a rethink while another frontbencher suffered no sanction for claiming civil servants’ forecasts were “always wrong”.
The prime minister has been severely embarrassed after extracts of an economic analysis on Brexit outcomes, prepared in No 10, were leaked to the Buzfeed website.