More than 500,000 EU nationals apply to stay in UK in single month amid ‘terror’ at prospect of no-deal Brexit

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Separately, The Independent revealed that around 5,000 vulnerable EU national children in Britain face losing their rights after Brexit because the Home Office has been providing “woefully inadequate” support for them to apply. “Elderly residents in care homes, people with disabilities, children and those who won’t know they have to apply are at risk of tipping into the hostile environment after the hard deadline unless the government says explicitly how it will handle those cases.” Ms Bohn called on ministers to make the system declaratory so that people who qualify automatically would be granted status without having to evidence it, saying this would prevent a “Windrush on steroids” scenario. Brexit will create an even bigger Windrush-style scandal.” She said the fact that hundreds of thousands of people were being given “second-class” pre-settled status meant they would face a “new cliff-edge” in five years, describing it as “another disaster waiting to happen”. Jacob Rees-Mogg claims 'one million' EU nationals have been granted settled status in the UK Home secretary Priti Patel celebrated the figures, saying: “EU citizens have made a huge contribution to this country and will play a key role in cementing Britain’s status as an outward-looking, global leader after Brexit.” Security minister and deputy for EU exit and no deal preparation Brandon Lewis meanwhile said: “There is plenty of support and information on offer to help people apply and get the status they need.