Michel Barnier, the chief Brexit negotiator, has been told the UK must accept EU citizens for longer

European Union governments demanded yesterday that their citizens who come to Britain after Brexit be allowed to remain in the country indefinitely, in a move that threatens to derail delicate transition talks.

In a new draft negotiating directive drawn up for Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, member states said the UK’s ability to apply a new immigration system to EU citizens arriving during the transition should be curbed.

It in effect reopens the deal the UK made with the EU in December, which said that only EU citizens present at the time of Brexit could stay without restriction and indefinitely.

Last night a British source said the UK position was unchanged and only EU workers in the country in March next year would be