The rights of EU nationals in the UK are not bargaining chips during Brexit negotiations, a parliamentary watchdog has warned the prime minister. The status of the estimated 2.9 million people from the EU living in the UK should be priority number one for Theresa May, says the Joint Committee on Human Rights, and the watchdog urged the PM to reach a separate preliminary agreement on the matter before negotiations begin next year. The group promised that any attempt by the UK government to deport EU nationals currently living in the country would be met by "expensive and lengthy litigation."