The UK government has said EU free movement rules will end immediately if there is a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.

Theresa May had considered phasing out the rules if the UK leaves the EU without an agreement, but those plans have now been dropped.

The change would affect the rights of EU citizens who arrive in the UK from November onwards.

A Lib Dem MP has criticised the move as “irresponsible and reckless”.

Under Mrs May, two options had been considered to prolong the rules, which allow EU nationals to live and work freely in other countries in the bloc, under no deal.

One option was for the rules to be extended until January 2021, and another was to allow EU citizens to stay for three months before applying for a longer stay.

Those plans have been dropped by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in favour of a new approach to be set out at a later stage.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Johnson said the UK would not “become hostile to immigration,” but it would be “democratically controlled” after Brexit.