Clegg backs curbs on EU migrant benefits

Report of an article by Liberal-Democrat leader and Deputy United Kingdom Prime Minister Nick Clegg published by the Financial Times on the 26 November 2014, as Mr Clegg visited Germany to discuss possible German support for restrictions on EU migrant benefits.

Open Europe suggested that there was a growing consensus amongst the three major political parties in the UK about the need and detail of reform to the benefits system for EU migrants, without a need to challenge the fundamental EU principle of free movement of workers / people.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: UK's Labour party takes up anti-EU migrant stance http://www.europeansources.info/record/uks-labour-party-takes-up-anti-eu-migrant-stance/

Open Europe: Daily Press Summary, 26.11.14: Nick Clegg backs Open Europe proposals to restrict EU migrants’ access to in-work benefits http://www.openeurope.org.uk/Article/Page/en/LIVE?id=22836&page=PressSummary

The Guardian, 26.11.14: Nick Clegg echoes Labour call to curb tax credits for EU migrants http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/26/nick-clegg-echoes-labour-call-curb-tax-credits-eu-migrants

ESO: Background information: Open Europe: EU free movement: make it fair to keep it free http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-free-movement-make-it-fair-to-keep-it-free/

The Guardian, 24.11.14: Benefits restrictions on in-work EU migrants ‘would be discriminatory’ http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/24/benefits-ban-work-eu-migrants-discrimination

ESO: Background information: UK exit better than restricting free movement, says German Chancellor http://www.europeansources.info/record/uk-exit-better-than-restricting-free-movement-says-german-chancellor/

ESO: Background information: David Cameron promises 'one last go' at EU migration curbs http://www.europeansources.info/record/david-cameron-promises-one-last-go-at-eu-migration-curbs/

Blog: Open Europe, 26.11.14: Cross-party consensus developing in favour of OE's proposals for free movement reforms http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/cross-party-consensus-developing-in.html

The Conversation, 27.11.14: Labour and the Lib Dems are crashing the Eurosceptic party https://theconversation.com/labour-and-the-lib-dems-are-crashing-the-eurosceptic-party-34733

---