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Your support makes all the difference.A former Tory leader has said the Government should guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in the UK now – without waiting for other European states to reciprocate.
Michael Howard urged the Government to "lead by example" and tell EU citizens already in the country that they will be allowed to stay, work and live here after Brexit as they have before.
It comes after the French Ambassador this morning said that people from her country living in the UK had suffered abuse since the referendum and now felt like "foreigners".
Until now Theresa May has signalled it is likely that the rights of EU citizens will be guaranteed, but has refused to do so until she is sure the rights of British citizens abroad will also be safeguarded. At least one Cabinet minister has suggested they be used as a bargaining chip in Brexit talks.
Speaking at an EU Justice Sub-Committee, Lord Howard said: "I think the Government should make it clear now that those EU citizens who are currently living in this country would be allowed to stay in this country, would be allowed to carry on working in this country, would be allowed to carry on studying. I don't think we should wait for any question of reciprocity.
"Lord Cormack said we should be leading by example. I entirely agree with that. I entirely accept what the French Ambassador has said about the dreadful uncertainty this will inflict on millions of people.
"Although I'm confident good sense will prevail on all sides, it is certainly my view that we shouldn't wait for that."
However, Lord Howard said it would be "perfectly reasonable" for the Government to say that those coming after any announcement would not enjoy the same rights as those here already.
French Ambassador Sylvie Bermann told peers today that people who once felt like "Londoners" have been left feeling like "foreigners" since the EU referendum.
She said: "In the aftermath of the referendum some French nationals were subjected to negative or aggressive language.
"They were not used to this sort of abuse in a country where many of them have lived for decades and which they regarded as a success story in terms of dynamism and respect for others."
Ministers have been accused of using the 3.6 million EU citizens currently in the country as ‘bargaining chips’ in the Brexit talks after Trade Secretary Liam Fox described them as "one of our main cards".
Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Tom Brake said: "When even arch-eurosceptic Michael Howard says EU nationals should be guaranteed the right to stay, it’s clear Theresa May is on the wrong side of the argument.
"These are people’s spouses, neighbours and friends, they must not be used as hostages in the Brexit negotiations. The Prime Minister must give all EU citizens who have made Britain their home the certainty they will be allowed to remain."
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