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May blocked granting rights to EU citizens *before* she was PM

(120 Posts)
MaizieD Fri 23-Jun-17 15:32:39

This is interesting. Why would she do this?
She wasn't PM at the time but I wonder if she had an inkling that Cameron would go and she had a chance of getting the leadership?

It makes a bit of a mockery of the the 'negotiating card' and the 'bad EU wouldn't reciprocate' rationales that people on here have been supporting.

I don't think that at this very early stage anyone from the EU had said that we'd have to wait for the negotiations to start before discussing rights of EU/UK immigrants

Start
Theresa May single-handedly blocked a plan to immediately guarantee the future rights of the 3m EU citizens in the UK last summer, George Osborne has revealed.

The then-Home Secretary was the only member of the Cabinet to oppose David Cameron, who “wanted to reassure EU citizens they would be allowed to stay”, after Brexit.

“All his Cabinet agreed with that unilateral offer, except his Home Secretary, Mrs May, who insisted on blocking it,” revealed the Evening Standard, now edited by Mr Osborne.

The proposal was discussed “in the days immediately after the referendum” exactly one year ago, said the newspaper.
The revelation comes after EU citizens in the UK protested that Ms May’s “generous” offer – outlined last night - will leave them with less rights after Brexit than “British jam”.

End

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-eu-citizens-rights-uk-referendum-theresa-may-blocked-plans-home-secretary-george-osborne-a7804461.html

suzied Tue 27-Jun-17 05:31:11

So they won't have the same rights as British citizens then? They can stay here if they fill in some massive form , pay an undisclosed sum, carry ID card etc . We have a family member who has been here since aged 5, speaks better English than most Brits, has worked in the NHS for 10 years, but because she was born a few miles away in France feels rejected and unwanted.

whitewave Tue 27-Jun-17 07:04:43

May is lieing, or at the very best being economical with the truth.

The EU wants all to have the existing rights in perpetuity.

Can anyone give me a reason why not?

whitewave Tue 27-Jun-17 16:56:25

It appears that the problem of the ECJ on Brexit is being resolved by calling the bit that deals with the UK. So it will look like the ECJ, behave like the ECJ but be called something else.

The FT blogger has also coined the acronym BEANO. to describe what is very likely to occur - Brexit exists in name only.

Smoke and mirrors.- claim victory, but change very little.

durhamjen Tue 27-Jun-17 17:14:07

Tories want to get rid of the ECJ because they want to change our human rights.
Just look at what happened with Grenfell, where people wanted to take the council to court but couldn't afford to.
It happens with the Home Office all the time. People get sent back to their own countries by the home office and cannot object because they cannot afford the fees.

That's what it's all about.

whitewave Wed 28-Jun-17 16:43:31

Stuff I've gleaned from MN

Paper on EU Citizens rights is the first documentation with any substance.

EU proposals - essentially to preserve all current rights.

UK proposals - to reduce EU citizens rights, which will also reduced the UK citizens rights in the U.K. In the longer term.
UK nationals in the EU. - the UK government have suggested the use of bargaining chips in order to help the UK citizens living abroad . What has been put on the table would not be further from the truth. The UK government seems quite happy to screw the UK citizens living abroad.

The bigger stumbling block is who oversees it all
UK wants U.K. Courts -but this is NOT going to happen and the EUbwill absolutely not compromise on this due to the UKs dreadful record on deportation, unlawful behaviour and lack of regard for family life. (Thanks May).

There will almost certainly be as we have spoken about previously - an alternative ECJ - called something else but with the same judges to appease the ignorant British public.

The use of language will be very important in these negotiations - casting compromise and roll back as victories for the UK.

I have downloaded both the UK and EU onto my email, but haven't a clue if it possible to get them onto here for people perusal!

durhamjen Wed 28-Jun-17 16:52:15

If what the government wants is passed, EU citizens living here will even lose their right to vote in the local elections, which are the only voting rights they have at the moment.

Luckylegs9 Wed 28-Jun-17 17:15:26

A politician, should if there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary, change their minds, it is called representing your constituents. Likewise a Prime Minister has to listen to the will of the people, democracy. I think she has been more than generous to Eu citizens.

Ana Wed 28-Jun-17 17:28:19

Alternatively whitewave, anyone who's interested could look at MN for themselves...[rolleyes]

whitewave Wed 28-Jun-17 17:36:39

David Davis appears to have accepted that there should be an intranational court - is this a step towards the EJC grin

FarNorth Wed 28-Jun-17 17:41:08

They could, Ana, but they might not think of it.
What's your problem? [blank stare].

FarNorth Wed 28-Jun-17 17:43:04

David Davis seems to be agreeing with a few suggestions. Maybe in a few days he'll agree that the UK doesn't really want to Brexit after all.

whitewave Wed 28-Jun-17 17:57:26

There is some thinking that he is do stupid that he has produced nothing of any worth towards Brexit, and in fact is obtaining the EU papers and rehashing them to suite the current UK thinking

POGS Wed 28-Jun-17 17:58:25

Am I correct in believing if I was a resident in Spain for example I would have to register with the authorities to vote in Local Elections . Can non Spanish residents vote in National Elections?.

What is the format in Germany, France etc. Are UK residents permitted to vote in Local and National Elections in ALL of the 27 European Countries in the EU simply because they are resident at the time of the election?

whitewave Wed 28-Jun-17 18:02:59

Bit of a red herring there pogs all the immigrants and UK emmigrants want is to retain their existing rights. The EU is happy to ensure they do do the UK isn't. That is all they need to know

durhamjen Wed 28-Jun-17 18:17:01

EU immigrants in the UK are registered with the local authority and pay tax and council tax. They have the right to vote in council elections. That's what they want to keep.
Of course, they would prefer to vote in general elections, but have to become UK citizens to do that.
Did anyone else watch Channel4 dispatches on Monday about how to get a British passport?
Young kids who have been here for ten years having to pay nearly a thousand pounds to get a passport, so they are not liable to be sent back to places like Nigeria, where they have never lived.
I was quite appalled.
But then I would be, wouldn't I? Others would think it served them right.

durhamjen Wed 28-Jun-17 18:40:19

www.theweek.co.uk/86128/a-million-foreign-workers-to-leave-uk-in-five-years

whitewave Wed 28-Jun-17 18:44:53

I think it is incredibly worrying. Not only are so many of our public services under threat as well as farm products, but their tax etc will be lost and government receipts will as a result fall making us even poorer.

whitewave Wed 28-Jun-17 18:51:00

The publication, "Business Insider" is reporting a government cabinet totally at war.

It has come to the conclusion that May has lost control.

As an aside Leadsom who I think you can suspect of having leadership ambitions ( blimey talk about scrapping the barrel) is not clearing any of her media appearances with No 10. I suppose it shows just how little control May now has.

varian Wed 28-Jun-17 19:15:19

Theresa May's blocking of EU citizens rights is a "badge of shame". She has a lot to be ashamed about.

www.libdems.org.uk/theresa-may-blocked-eu-nationals-right-to-stay

FarNorth Wed 28-Jun-17 20:04:22

I still don't see why TM was able to block it if everyone else unanimously wanted it.
And I don't trust George Osborne one inch.

durhamjen Wed 28-Jun-17 20:05:07

Explains the u-turn after u-turn after u-turn today, whitewave.
Maybot out of control and going round in circles.

durhamjen Wed 28-Jun-17 20:07:39

Possibly because she was the home secretary, FarNorth?
Nobody has said Osborne was lying and it's been out for nearly a week.

POGS Wed 28-Jun-17 21:18:30

Why was my question a Red Herring.?

I thought somebody could tell me the answer but I guess it is so far not known by posters who followed.

I am trying to get my head around both the E U and UK Government proposals before I make an informed decision as to what I feel about their proposals. Proposals that might alter as negotiations go on.

whitewave Wed 28-Jun-17 21:22:51

The full proposals can be found on line. I have down loaded them and would put them on here if i knew how

POGS Wed 28-Jun-17 21:38:24

WW

I can't in all honesty find the answer To my question and I have looked.

Can UK citizens residing in EU countries vote in local and national elections either now or is it covered in the EU Proposal.

A genuine question I was hoping to know the answer to, no Red Herring, no ulterior motive a plain and simple question.