Johnson rebuked as Tories squabble

The Chancellor has rebuked Boris Johnson and insisted the Government must deliver a Brexit that works for businesses as Tory tensions over EU withdrawal boiled over in a crunch week for Theresa May.

MILLIONS OF EU nationals should not have to pay £65 to stay in the UK after Brexit, the European Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator has told the Government.

Guy Verhofstadt urged Home Secretary Sajid Javid to waive the cost of signing up to the settlement scheme.

The fee for the three million EU citizens living and working in the UK is among a number of “outstanding concerns” outlined in a letter on behalf of the EP’s Brexit Steering Group.

It is also concerned about possible barriers to “vulnerable” people signing up, and wants more information about the powers of the Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA) that will oversee the appeals process.

Mr Verhofstadt, the former Belgian Prime Minister, said: “MEPs remain unhappy that EU27 citizens in the UK, who have contributed to British society and paid their taxes, will have to pay for registration.

“We continue to believe this process should be cost-free, in keeping with the European Parliament’s longstanding position on this matter.

“More needs to be done to ensure that vulnerable EU citizens are properly catered for and that any delays faced by citizens with the registration process itself does not create unnecessary anxiety.”

The steering group is also to investigate the preparations made by EU nations for British citizens living there following Brexit.

The £65 adult cost of the registration scheme for EU citizens wishing to stay in Britain after the end of the transition period on December 31, 2020 is the same as the current fee for a permanent resident document.