OXFORD East MP Anneliese Dodds is claiming a 'considerable victory' over the government on EU citizens' rights post Brexit.

Ms Dodds claims the government today changed its position over rules on applications to stay in the country, on the EU Settlement Scheme.

The shadow treasury minister asked the Home Office whether EU citizens would 'be required to show that they meet all the requirements of current free movement rules', in a written question on December 20.

But the Labour member believes the wording on a government website was amended yesterday to make it easier for EU nationals to stay.

Earlier this week, EU nationals living in Oxford told the Mail about serious concerns surrounding the £65 'pay to stay' scheme.

READ MORE: BREXIT: 'I feel ashamed to say I live here' say EU Nationals in Oxford over £65 scheme

After an unusually long delay, Labour's Ms Dodds received a response from home office minister Caroline Nokes stating: "EU citizens and their family members who apply for UK immigration status under the EU Settlement Scheme will not be required to show that they meet all the requirements of current free movement rules, such as any requirement to hold comprehensive sickness insurance or to have been undertaking specific permitted activities under EU law.

"Instead, the main requirement for eligibility under the scheme will be continuous UK residence."

Ms Dodds said she was concerned about the time it took to respond to her question and suggested that the answer meant the immigration minister's position had changed.

She also said the issue has caused 'considerable disquiet to many people, who had the prospect of not being able to obtain EU settled status having been promised it previously by government.'

Ms Dodds continued: "Personally I think this response is still a bit ambiguous. Before they said 'proof of residence plus criminal records check'.

"Now they say mainly continuous residence but without saying what the other elements could be. So to be honest it's still less clear than I would like, although probably a step forward, from Nokes' original response."

Ms Dodds said the saga was 'a massive contradiction' in what the government said at different times to different people'.

When asked for a comment, the Home Office pointed people to what it said was its last statement on the subject on December 20.