UK to scrap plans for lengthy free movement period for EU citizens in the event of No-Deal Brexit
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Ministers will scrap plans for a lengthy period of continued free movement for EU citizens in the event of a no-deal Brexit, Sajid Javid, home secretary, announced on Monday.
Britain would immediately impose a scheme demanding EU citizens obtain visas for new visits lasting longer than three months in the event of there being no negotiated departure and no transition period. Mr Javid said the provisions would give the UK “full control” of its borders “for the first time in decades”.
The plans would supplant the government’s plan under the envisaged post-Brexit transition period to allow EU citizens to continue to move to the UK and seek “pre-settled status”— a prelude to permanent settlement — until December 2020.
Mr Javid said the intended rules, which would start after the Brexit date of March 29, would end free movement between the UK and European Union “once and for all”, in a move that he said would “deliver on the referendum result” of the 2016 Brexit vote. But he went on: “We need to take a practical approach and minimise disruption to ensure the UK stays open for business. That is why we will introduce time-limited transitional arrangements and grant EU citizens coming after March 29 temporary leave.”
