PM stands by settlement scheme

Theresa May sidestepped apologising to a Fife grandmother forced to register to stay in the UK threequarters of a century after her arrival from Germany.

The prime minister was urged to say sorry to Karin Vaughan, 73, a babe-in-arms when she arrived in England after her home in Germany was bombed.

North-East Fife MSP Stephen Gethins challenged Mrs May over the case in Westminster.

But she defended the government’s widely criticised settlement scheme which requires around 3.5 million people to apply to stay in the UK after its exit from the European Union.

SNP’s Mr Gethins told Mrs May: “Last week my constituent Karin Vaughan had to travel to a registration office in Edinburgh from the village of Letham in Fife.

“Mrs Vaughan moved to the UK 74 years ago when she was three months old.

“Her village is very, very angry. She is upset.

“What is the prime minister’s message to Mrs Vaughan? I hope it’s ‘I’m sorry’.”

Mrs May said she was unaware of the details of the case and replied: “If he (Mr Gethins) is reflecting on the fact that we are saying that those who are European Union citizens, in order to ensure that they have the verification of their position here in the European Union, should apply under the EU settlement scheme then I believe it’s the right approach the government is taking.

“We are making that an easy scheme for people.

“From the national roll-out of that scheme there will be no fee.”