Write to your MP on rights bid, campaigners urge

Conservative MP Alberto Costa wants Prime Minister Theresa May to seek an agreement with the EU separating off the citizens’ rights part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement and committing to it, whatever happens with the rest of the deal (Northern Irish border etc). This is the ‘ring-fencing’ of citizens’ rights that campaigners at British in Europe and the3million (for EU citizens abroad in the UK) have been calling for.

Mr Costa wants to do this with an amendment to the motion on the government’s strategy that is expected to be debated by MPs next Wednesday after Mrs May updates the house on her progress in talks with the EU on Tuesday.

He proposes to add wording as follows:

“This House considers the prime minister's statement of February 26 and requires the prime minister to seek at the earliest opportunity a joint UK-EU commitment to adopt part two of the withdrawal agreement on citizens’ rights and ensure its implementation prior to the UK’s exiting the European Union, whatever the outcome of negotiations on other aspects of the withdrawal agreement.”

The amendment is said to have cross-party support, however British in Europe say it will help make sure that the amendment is selected for debate by the Speaker if people write to their MPs (if you live in France this would be the one for the last UK constituency you lived in).

You can find your MPs and their contact details at this link.

British in Europe have written a template letter here.