Brexit: Theresa May urged to act fast as new poll finds huge support for protecting EU migrants ' rights

Brexit: Theresa May urged to act fast as new poll finds huge support for protecting EU migrants’ rights

Exclusive polling for The Independent reveals that 66 per cent want the Prime Minister to ensure Europeans living and working in the UK can stay on after Brexit

Joe Watts Political Editor

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British Prime Minister Theresa May EPA
British people overwhelmingly want Theresa May to immediately guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, an exclusive poll has revealed.

The BMG Research study for The Independent reveals two-thirds of people would back a move to guarantee rights now, giving certainty to EU citizens who have no idea if they can still live and work here after Brexit. Such a move would enjoy majority support across every age and social group, and among the supporters of every political party – except those backing Ukip.

In total 66 per cent said the Government should guarantee EU citizens’ rights immediately if other EU states were prepared to do the same for British citizens living abroad. So far Ms May has signalling that any guarantee should be undertaken as part of formal Brexit negotiations, which do not begin until next March – a timetable that could leave millions of EU and British nationals in limbo for years. Comments by the International Trade Secretary Liam Fox that the EU citizens’ rights are one of the UK’s “main cards” in Brexit talks have caused further consternation.

Pressure is now mounting on the Prime Minister to act, with former Tory leader Michael Howard even calling on Ms May to make a unilateral guarantee on EU rights now, as evidence suggests high-skilled EU workers are turning their backs on Britain amid ambiguity over their future.

BMG questioned a representative sample of UK adults, initially asking them if the Government should “guarantee the right of EU citizens to continue living and working in the UK post-Brexit”.

In response, 58 per cent said “yes”, 28 per cent said “no” and 14 per cent said they did not know.

They were then asked: “If EU countries are willing to immediately guarantee the rights of British citizens living and working in those countries to continue post-Brexit, should the UK Government also immediately guarantee the right of EU citizens living and working in the UK?” A large majority of 66 per cent backed the move; just 21 per cent said “no” and 14 per cent said they did not know.

Dr Michael Turner, head of polls at BMG Research, said: “People’s views on immigration shape their support for this proposal. For those who say that immigration is the most important issue facing society, just 51 per cent say that May should guarantee EU national’s right to stay, compared to 70 per cent of those who think another issue is more important.