UK PM announces tougher EU migration plans

[Jessica Berry]

Article from news.com.au today....

 

 

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has announced measures to toughen welfare rules for migrants from the European Union.

 

The announcement came amid rising concern in Britain that migrants from Romania and Bulgaria - who could start working without restriction in the UK and the rest of the EU from January 1 - would exploit the British welfare system.

 

The measures announced on Wednesday include barring new migrants from getting jobless benefits for the first three months, and deporting migrants caught begging or sleeping outdoors.

 

Cameron also proposed restricting the free movement of EU workers, saying the policy has caused "vast migrations" of people from poorer member states to richer ones.

 

His comments were criticised by European Employment Commissioner Laszlo Andor, who said they were an "unfortunate over-reaction".

[spanners]

Without appearing rude - what do I care? Its a country on the other side of the world (literally) that I left to come here.

 

On a wider note, why shouldn't Romanians etc go the the UK as social / economic migrants? Aren't all us POMs over here social migrants?

[Rachiegarlo]

I think that's the point of the article, Yes you can come but don't expect handouts straight away. This is what happens here for a lot of people after all. I see no problem with social or economic migration, but there have to be limits, especially if the majority of it is one way. Also many people who move to other countries do retain an interest in events in their native country. If you don't then why bother to state your disinterest, better to ignore the post if you don't wish to appear rude.

Edited November 28, 2013 by Rachiegarlo

[srg73]

1, This is the UK taking the lead as Germany, France Netherlands etc are all considering adjustments to their social services and benefits

2, The UK simply can not afford to support more people

3, POMs heading out to OZ usually have to meet a certain threshold meaning they are skilled and are wanting to work

4, Even whilst packing to most likely leave these shores, I will be leaving family and will always have an attachment to blighty

 

S

[Diane]

Is this to close the loophole that means if someone (let's say an Aussie person with an English husband/wife) lives and works for three months in Europe, they can then enter Britain as a European citizen with full work rights, whereas they have stopped people married to an English citizen being entitled to a spouse visa (or whatever the equivalent is) so unless you put up a huge bond, you can't just move back to England and work if you do not already hold English citizenship yourself?

[Anne B]

Is this to close the loophole that means if someone (let's say an Aussie person with an English husband/wife) lives and works for three months in Europe, they can then enter Britain as a European citizen with full work rights, whereas they have stopped people married to an English citizen being entitled to a spouse visa (or whatever the equivalent is) so unless you put up a huge bond, you can't just move back to England and work if you do not already hold English citizenship yourself?

 

No, it's nothing to do with that. It is because restrictions on Romanian and Bulgarian migrants are being lifted in 2014 so many countries (UK, France, Germany etc) think they are going to be inundated with migrants from these 2 countries. To quote the Guardian

 

"The lifting of transitional controls on Bulgarians and Romanians entering the UK has prompted anxiety about the numbers likely to come and opinion polls showing that most Britons want migrants from the two countries barred from working.

 

In the package, Cameron announced:

 

• No newly arrived EU jobseekers will be able to claim housing benefit.

 

• No EU migrant will be entitled to out-of-work benefits for the first three months. In line with a previous announcement, from January no EU migrant will be able to claim jobseeker's allowance (JSA) for more than a maximum of six months unless they can prove that they have a genuine prospect of employment.

 

• A new minimum-earnings threshold will be introduced before benefits such as income support can be claimed.

 

• Any EU national sleeping rough or begging will be deported and barred from re-entry for 12 months "unless they can prove they have a proper reason to be here, such as a job".

[Ian&Beth]

This announcement has more to do with the Nigel Farage effect than actually giving a toss........the main political parties are starting to panic now at the amount of votes they will lose to UKIP come election day.

Labours record on uncontrolled mass immigration is a complete disgrace, they should be tried for treason imo........of course the Lib/Con government despite the promises are hardly any better.

[srg73]

This announcement has more to do with the Nigel Farage effect than actually giving a toss........the main political parties are starting to panic now at the amount of votes they will lose to UKIP come election day.

Labours record on uncontrolled mass immigration is a complete disgrace, they should be tried for treason imo........of course the Lib/Con government despite the promises are hardly any better.

 

Withdraw from schengen agreement?

[Ian&Beth]

Withdraw from schengen agreement?

 

It may help, the opt out option is there for the UK.....probably too little too late though.

Edited November 29, 2013 by Ian&Beth