EU MIGRANTS living in the UK will be given the right to remain in the country if there is a no-deal Brexit, it has been revealed.
Despite not knowing whether British nationals living in the EU will be given reciprocal rights, leaked government papers have revealed that the UK is set to take the ‘moral high ground’, reported the Daily Telegraph.
The 3.8 million EU citizens residing in Britain will still be able to use the benefits system and access the NHS.
The EU is yet to decide what rights UK expats will receive.
It comes as fears grow over potential labour shortages in certain sectors once Britain is no longer in the EU.
It is believed further documents outlining preparations for a no deal Brexit are set to be published by the government on Thursday.
The leaked paper seen by the Daily Telegraph states: “The Home Office plans to make an offer to existing EU residents that they can remain in the UK in a ‘no-deal’ scenario, in effect unilaterally implementing the [immigration element of the] citizens’ rights agreement agreed with the EU in December 2017.
“The proposal is to make the offer irrespective of whether the EU reciprocates. Any package would need resolution for the reciprocal elements of the December 2017 deal.
“Making an offer is not only important to provide certainty publicly, but will enable the UK government to take the moral high ground.
“A number of other plans are also dependent on the government’s position on this issue, relying heavily on the availability of existing labour in a ‘no deal’ scenario.”
Meanwhile Brexit secretary Dominic Raab wis set to travel to Brussels on Tuesday for further negotiations with the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier but believes a deal is still ‘the most likely outcome’.
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The EU needs to move or Spain will lose all the income from ex-pats and holidaymakers