EU citizens must apply for status

I challenged Theresa May over the process for EU citizens applying for status in a post-Brexit Britain.

In a House of Commons statement, the Prime Minister set out her policy on EU citizens, confirming that all three million must apply for status if they want to stay in the country.

I represent many EU citizens who are fearful and indeed tearful about their future prospects.

She talks about a streamlined system for applying for status, but many people worry about how they will pay the costs for an entire family to go through the process in short order.

I pushed the Prime Minister about the cost to families who wish to apply and asked for an indication of what those costs might be.

In response the Prime Minister said:

"The Home Office will be looking very carefully at ensuring that the costs are reasonable. It wants to ensure that the streamlined system, which will be a light-touch process, will be easy for people to access and that it will therefore be easy for them to regularise their status."

Hackney voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU in last year's referendum. During the passing of the Brexit Bill the Government rejected Meg's calls to guarantee the future of EU citizens.

The full announcement and exchange can be found here.