28.11.14
Cameron proposes four-year ban on in-work benefits for new EU migrants
Immigrants from the EU will have to work in Britain for four years before they are eligible to claim benefits, David Cameron proposed in a major speech on immigration today.
In addition, jobseekers arriving from Europe will be denied all out-of-work benefits and could be deported if they are still unemployed after six months. Cameron also plans for child benefit and child tax credit payments to EU workers for dependents not living in Britain to be stopped altogether.
He held back from calling for a quota on EU immigrants, insisting he believed in the principle of the free movement of workers. However the PM admitted his plan to curb immigration from Europe would require changes to EU treaties.
The main proposals in the speech, which depend on Cameron remaining in power after May's general election, are:
- Stopping EU migrants from claiming in-work benefits, such as tax credits, and getting access to social housing for four years
- Stopping migrants claiming child benefit for dependents living outside the UK
- Removing migrants from the UK after six months if they have not found work
- Restricting the right of migrants to bring family members into the UK
- Stopping EU jobseekers claiming Universal Credit
- Speeding up deportation of convicted criminals
- Longer re-entry bans for beggars and fraudsters removed from the UK
- Stopping citizens from new EU entrants working in the UK until "their economies have converged more closely".
- Extra money for communities with high levels of migrants
The changes are to form the basis of a renegotiation of Britain’s membership in the EU. However he appears to be backing up from the headlong rush to an in/out referendum, saying “access to the EU single market was something that should only be given up carefully”.
He added: “I am confident that with goodwill and understanding we can and will succeed. I don’t think I will fail and I don’t want to fail.”
The PM left open the option of campaigning for a British exit from the EU if demands for action to reduce numbers aren’t heard.
“If our concerns fall on deaf ears and we cannot put our relationship with the EU on a better footing, then of course I rule nothing out. If I fail, I am absolutely clear, nothing, and I mean nothing, will be ruled out,” he said.
Brussels said the ideas were "part of the debate" to be "calmly considered".
Recently released immigration figures show net migration is higher than when the Conservatives came to power and nearly 100,000 off Cameron’s target of cutting net migration to below 100,000 by 2015. The figures also show net migration from outside the EU has also risen significantly.
Figures from the UCL Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration found that immigrants from European countries were less likely to claim benefits (29.4%) than native Brits (37.2%) or immigrants from other countries (34.2%).
Labour and the Lib Dems have said they will restrict access to in-work tax credits, but not for as long as Cameron is proposing.
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