UK rushes out welfare curbs to deter applications from East European migrants
Prime Minister David Cameron scrambles to deter economic migrants from Romania and Bulgaria with changes to eligability for welfare benefits
British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday he was rushing to introduce regulations to stop migrants from the European Union being able to immediately claim welfare benefits amid public fears of an influx of Romanian and Bulgarian workers.
With his Conservative party trailing in opinion polls ahead of a 2015 election and polls showing most Britons don’t want the labour market to be further opened up to east European workers next year, Cameron is under pressure to act on the issue.
Anxious not to be outflanked by the anti-immigration UK Independence Party (UKIP), Cameron has said he shares public concerns about EU restrictions being lifted on Romanians and Bulgarians working in Britain at the end of this year.
On Wednesday, in comments pre-released by his office, the prime minister said he was bringing forward to January 1 a previously announced measure forcing EU migrants to wait three months before they can apply for welfare benefits.
“I want to send the clear message that whilst Britain is very much open for business, we will not welcome people who don’t want to contribute.”
A senior government source said Cameron had originally envisaged the measure taking effect around the middle of next year but had decided to accelerate the process.
