Thread by @alexandrabulat

This evening I had the great pleasure to attend an event on @The3Million's #citizensrights at the Romanian Cultural Insitute #London, with speeches from @SuellaFernandes, @PaulBrummell & Romanian ambassador + Q&A with @DExEUgov, @ukhomeoffice, DWP, Education.
My thoughts ⬇️

Overall - and expected- a very positive tone from all parts, underlining the contribution Romanians make to the UK (this is really needed to balance the Mail & the Sun's coverage), and emphasizing the UK's commitment to #citizensrights.
However, the devil is in the detail.

To start with, Suella Fernandes references the #Florence speech and how EU citizens will continue to 'live their lives as before'.

- - 'Living their lives as before' is only logically possible if guaranteeing ALL existing rights.

Ms Fernandes rightly mentioned the #citizensrights agreement is 'political', however she goes on mentioning that 'this agreement will secure your rights'.

- - It only secures anything once it is in the WA or ringfenced if WA ends up not existent in a 'no deal' scenario.

Ms Fernandes continues by mentioning guarantees for 'close family members'.

- - Who is a close family member? Where do we draw the limit? Should such limit even be in place?

The #citizensrights agreement will be 'incorporated into UK law'.

- - Leave campaigners, including UKIP, promised rights will be guaranteed under international law. Will of the people? Accountability?

An example here:

Settled status in the panel discussion. I asked what rights are left out, or still being negotiated, so the audience does not get the impression everything is secure.

- - Still on the table: future family members, issues on recognition of qualifications & voting rights

Hint that @The3Million have a much better deal than @BritishInEurope at this very moment, as more is to be negotiated on the other side.

- - We need a deal that is fair to all, whichever 'wrong side of the channel' Brexit finds you on.

Mentions that a 'majority' will have an easy time qualifying for #settledstatus, as the streamlined process will have access to HMRC data.

- - We need a system that is fair to all those who were promised 'automatic grant' of all rights by Vote Leave, including the vulnerable

The settled status will be cheaper than PR. Atm PR = £65 per person; Settled status 'no more than British passport'. Passport = £72.50

- - Your daily reminder Vote Leave promised automatic grant of all existing rights. Settled status not automatic as one has to apply & pay for

Likely no physical ID card, but a 'digital token', that employers or other parties can use to check if someone has settled status. Still discussing this.

- - As usual, I am sceptical of digital projects of this scale. Let's see how it goes.

My second audience question was: in the event of a no deal, will #citizensrights be ringfenced?

- - No promises, and to be fair, no one really seemed to have a clue. 'Of course, it is in the best interests to have a deal'. How about the 'no deal is better than a bad deal'?

To conclude: lots of positive talk, but the reality is there are still outstanding issues, no real planning for a no deal, not respecting Vote Leave's promise of automatic grant of ALL existing rights.

Meanwhile, I am #613daysinlimbo as a Romanian national.
#peopleb4politics

Follow-up blog post on why #citizensrights is not a done deal:

blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2018/02…