A PLAN to allow Britons to opt-in and stay as EU citizens after Brexit is being considered by the European Parliament.
The idea, which will be discussed by a parliamentary committee as an amendment, would give people living in former member states the right to retain “associate citizenship”.
Under the terms of their citizenship they would keep free movement across the bloc and they would still be represented in the EU as they would also be able to vote in European Parliament elections.
The amendment was proposed by a liberal MEP from Luxembourg, Charles Goerens, and The Independent reports it will be considered by the Parliament’s constitutional affairs committee.
Brexit campaigners have blasted the idea and said it would discriminate against Leave voters and is divisive.
Jayne Adye, director of the Get Britain Out campaign said: “This is an outrage.
“The EU is now attempting to divide the great British public at the exact moment we need unity.
“17.4 million people voted to Leave the EU on June 23 and as a result the UK as a whole will get Brexit.
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“Brexit means laws which impact the people of the UK will be created by accountable politicians in Westminster.
“It is totally unacceptable for certain citizens in the UK to subject themselves to laws which are created by politicians who are not accountable the British people as a whole.
“Discriminating against people based on their political views shows there are no depths the EU will not sink to.”
Since becoming PM Theresa May has said she has listened to the voters so the post-Brexit deal she negotiates with the EU is unlikely to include free movement of EU citizens.
Her plan is to trigger Article 50 – and so begin the formal process of leaving the bloc – at the end of March.
But the High Court has ruled she must seek MPs’ approval to trigger the process of taking Britain out of Europe so the Government has mounted an appeal in the Supreme Court.
The legal challenge will start on December 5 and is expected to last four days.
In the House of Commons earlier this week the Brexit Secretary David Davis told MPs he did not expect the legal process to disrupt the PM’s Brexit timetable – even though the Supreme Court judges are not expected to return a ruling until January.
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