Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein

[scion]

The comments are deeply unhelpful to the prime minister because they send a message to MPs that the Commons does not need to rush through ratification of the withdrawal agreement bill in time for October 31 and that a Brexit extension is a certainty under the Benn Act.

The pledge, which is known to be the position of European leaders, even including President Macron of France, will also have implications for Mr Johnson as MPs attempt to block the possibility of a no-deal Brexit after the planned transition period next year.

In a new barrier to Brexit by the end of the month, Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s chief negotiator, today demanded new concessions from the government on the rights of EU nationals before MEPs ratify the deal.

He said that up to 200,000 European nationals would miss a government deadline to register for settled status and would be at risk of deportation in a repeat of the Windrush scandal, when Commonwealth citizens entitled to live in Britain were deported under fast-track Home Office rules.

“There will be no deportation of these people,” he said. “Before we give our consent I want these problems resolved. We do not want EU citizens involved in another Windrush scandal in Britain. That cannot happen.”

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/no-deal-brexit-will-never-be-eu-s-decision-says-donald-tusk-k7wkqn999