Conservative leadership hopeful offers free citizenship to EU nationals

Michael Gove has kicked off his campaign to be the next Conservative leader with a bold proposal to offer EU nationals in the UK free citizenship.

Fees for citizenship currently amount to £1,330. With an estimated three million EU nationals currently living in the UK, the pledge could cost up to £3.9 billion.

Under Theresa May’s Brexit plan EU nationals can apply for ‘settled status’, allowing them them to continue living and working in the UK as they currently do. The scheme has been open to all EU nationals since 30 March 2019.