| Series Title | EurActiv |
|---|---|
| Series Details | 06.01.14 |
| Publication Date | 06/01/2014 |
| Content Type | News |
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United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron said on 5 January 2014 that he would consider pushing for a cap on workers from Europe and make cutting immigration a top priority as he sought to renegotiate Britain's relationship with the European Union. However, he was expected to find considerable resistance from other EU Member States. United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage called on the 7 January 2014 for immigrants to be barred from receiving any benefits until they have been resident in the UK for five years. London Mayor Boris Johnson (a Conservative Party member) also weighed into the debate, suggesting a ban on EU citizens claiming benefits should be two years. A British Social Attitudes Survey suggested more than three-quarters of Britons want to see a cut in immigration - and 56% want to see a major crackdown. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on 7 January 2014 vowed to block any British changes to EU laws that would prevent migrant workers from having access to welfare benefits. The leaders from both countries had a 40-minute phone call to smooth relations amid this dispute. Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat leader and deputy PM, said the UK coalition government was united over plans to tighten benefits for EU citizens in Britain while criticising the system as 'perverse'. Labour MP and Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna suggested on the 9 January 2014 that the Labour Party might be interested in restricting free movement within the European Union for workers who do not have the firm offer of a job. Viviane Reding, one of the Vice Presidents of the European Commission, said on the 9 January 2014 that UK government ministers appeared to be stoking up fears about European Union migrants to distract voters from the real problems Britain faced. |
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| Source Link | http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/cameron-ask-brussels-cap-eu-migr-news-532595 |
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| Subject Categories | Employment and Social Affairs, Internal Markets |
| Countries / Regions | Europe, United Kingdom |
