Michael Gove will offer free UK citizenship to three million European Union (EU) nationals if elected Conservative Party leader, a source close to the environment secretary has confirmed.

People from the 27 EU nations, who were resident in the UK at the time of the June 2016 referendum, would be eligible for a British passport under the scheme.

“Michael Gove is ready to unite the country. Guaranteeing the rights of EU nationals here in the UK through a declaratory scheme, and making a generous offer of citizenship to those lawfully here at the time of the referendum, is a first step in that direction,” a source close to the politician said.

The Surrey Heath MP is running to replace Theresa May as prime minister and Conservative Party leader, in a crowded field of competitors which also includes Boris Johnson.

Under Mr Gove’s plan the EU nationals would not have to pay a £1,330 fee when eligible for naturalisation in 2021 because they resided in the United Kingdom when the referendum was held in June 2016.

Who is standing to be the next prime minister? Show all 3 1 /3 Who is standing to be the next prime minister? Who is standing to be the next prime minister? Boris Johnson - 157 votes Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson arriving in Downing Street, London, for a Cabinet meeting where Theresa May will brief on her plans for Brexit before a major speech aimed at helping to break the deadlock in the negotiations with Brussels. PA Who is standing to be the next prime minister? Michael Gove - 61 votes LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 07: Britain's Environment Secretary Michael Gove leaves 10 Downing Street on June 7, 2018 in London, England. Prime Minister Theresa May is holding an emergency Brexit cabinet meeting in an attempt to resolve tensions over the UK's Irish border plan. (Photo by Simon Dawson/Getty Images) Getty Who is standing to be the next prime minister? Jeremy Hunt - 59 votes Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt leaving Downing Street, London, after attending a Cabinet meeting. PA

“This is simply the right thing to do – honouring the promise of Vote Leave that EU nationals studying, working and living in the UK were welcome to stay,” the source added.

The environment minister insisted on Monday that he could bring people together if elected leader, despite earning a reputation for his betrayals of both David Cameron and Mr Johnson.

“I have been through a variety of experiences,” Mr Gove said in an interview with Nick Robinson at the Hay Festival.

“I led, some people may lament this, but I led the campaign to leave the European Union and that involved going up head to head with David Cameron and others in the debate formats that we had.”

“I think that I’ve evolved as a politician, but, obviously, we’ll see in the course of the next few days and weeks who people think has what it takes.”

Theresa May announced on Friday that she was resigning as prime minister and Conservative Party leader, over her failure to solve the Brexit crisis.

A number of Conservative MPs have entered the race to replace her, including Sajid Javid, Dominic Raab and Andrea Leadsom.

Mr Johnson, the former foreign secretary, is widely considered the frontrunner.

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Mr Gove’s decision to run against him is seen as the biggest threat to a Johnson premiership.

It will also revive memories of the dramatic 2016 leadership race, when the Surrey Heath MP was appointed Mr Johnson’s campaign chairman – only to declare his colleague as unfit to be leader and launch his own doomed candidature.

The 2019 contest will officially begin on 10 June, three days after Ms May officially steps down.