May: EU must protect expats

THERESA MAY ramped up her war of words with Brussels last night by demanding a pledge to protect expats living in Europe if Britain leaves the EU without a deal. The UK prime minister, who is increasingly defiant after the EU’s rejection of her Chequers deal, said protecting expats was ‘the right thing’ to do. On Friday Mrs May promised that the rights of more than 3million EU citizens living in the UK would be protected, even if talks broke down. Last night she said: ‘We took this decision because it is the right thing to do. And I call upon the EU to reciprocate for UK citizens living in the EU. That, too, is the right thing to do.’

Mrs May also promised to remain calm. ‘Now is the time for cool heads,’ she added. ‘And it is a time to hold our nerve.’

The move – designed to demonstrate the seriousness of preparations for a no-deal Brexit – follows her live broadcast from No.10 Downing Street on Friday – when she criticised Brussels for a lack of ‘respect’.

She faces a crunch cabinet meeting tomorrow which is expected to be dominated by debate over whether her Chequers deal can be salvaged.