Teetering on the brink of Brexit, EU citizens still have no firm guarantee on their rights. Calm down, says the government, you have nothing to fear: the Home Office has crafted its own “generous” settled status scheme. It sounds promising, only requiring people to have been resident for five years (with no conditions as to work) to get settled status. Those falling short can get pre-settled status to help them clock up the necessary months or years.

But a closer examination reveals a number of tripwires — ones that will catch out women, children, the elderly, the disabled, and vulnerable and exploited EU nationals.

The most perilous is the cliff-edge deadline of December 31, 2020 (or June 30, 2021 if the withdrawal agreement takes effect).