We’ll deport EU murderers when we leave, vows Davis
EUROPEAN Union migrants convicted of serious crimes will be deported from Britain under strict new border controls after the country quits the bloc, senior Conservative David Davis signalled yesterday.
In a hint of the post-Brexit immigration regime, the Cabinet Minister indicated that EU citizens guilty of murder, rape and other offences will lose their right to stay in the UK.
He also plans to keep Britain in the European health insurance scheme so that British tourists will not be hit by medical bills if taken ill abroad.
Full details of the Government’s plans for the status of EU migrants currently in the UK after Brexit are set to be announced today.
Mr Davis revealed the tough approach on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show yesterday.
Pressed about whether any of those currently in the country face deportation after Brexit, the EU Exit Secretary said: “I don’t think so, unless they’ve committed a crime or some sort of security problem. I don’t expect that. It will be go back to the normal relationship.”
Under Brussels free movement rules, it is far harder for the Home Office to deport EU nationals convicted of serious crimes than those from countries outside the bloc.
Once we leave the EU however, it is expected that criminals from the continent will be treated the same as those from any other nation.
Criminals could still use the European Convention on Human Rights to challenge deportation, however.
On the European Health Insurance Card, Mr Davis added: “We’re looking to see if we can get a continuation of the EHIC scheme as it now exists and if we can’t get one then we would provide one unilaterally anyway.”
He said EU citizens currently living in the UK should not be anxious. “We’re trying to ensure that every individual citizen gets their current position as it were locked in place for them, so the anxiety can go.
“This is the real issue, it’s about people’s anxiety. It’s not about the prospect of deporting people, it’s about the anxiety that they can’t stay.”
Responding to speculation about the Prime Minister’s future, Mr Davis warned fellow Tories that ousting Theresa May would be “catastrophic” for the EU withdrawal negotiations.
He said a party leadership contest was bound to create damaging instability at decisive time for the country.
He urged his party to support “bold” Mrs May to continue to ensure the best Brexit deal for Britain can be won.
Mr Davis spoke out following fresh gossip from Tory sources about possible replacements for the Prime Minister in the wake of the electon.
One report suggested Chancellor Philip Hammond was wanted by some ministers to be a “caretaker” premier while others were said to be calling for a fresh face from the younger generation of Tory MPs.
But Mr Davis branded the speculation “self-indulgent” yesterday. “Let me be absolutely plain about this, I happen to think we have got a very good Prime Minister,” he said. “I know she is coming under a lot of pressure at the moment but I have seen her in action. I think she is very good. She makes good decisions. She’s bold. She takes her time. Point number two is, I want a stable backdrop to this Brexit negotiation.”
Mr Davis agreed with a suggestion from interviewer Mr Marr that a Tory leadership contest would be “catastrophic” for the Brexit negotiations.
His message to Tory MPs seeking a contest was: “Don’t be so self-indulgent. Get on with the day job. The more self-indulgent nonsense you go in for, the more difficult you make it to do our proper job.”