Cameron seeks support of EU leaders over newly proposed curbs on migrants’ welfare

British PM David Cameron

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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British PM David CameronU.K. Prime Minister David Cameron seeks the support of other European Union (EU) leaders to for his newly proposed tougher measures over far-reaching curbs on welfare benefits for migrants on Friday.

Mr Cameron has indicated that lower EU migration would be a priority in future negotiations on Britain’s membership and he said would “rule nothing out” if other EU states will oppose the suggested plans.

Immigration to Britain has increased sharply over the past decade, putting immense pressure on public services, making PM forced to address voters’ concerns ahead of the May 2015 general election.

Under fresh plans to cut immigration, migrants will have to wait four years to claim certain benefits and those who do not find jobs within six months of their arrival will be deported.

Migrants will be able to claim tax credits and child benefit and to apply for social housing only after residing for four complete years in the country, and will receive no child benefit or child tax credit for offspring living abroad.

In a long-awaited speech in a factory in the West Midlands, Mr Cameron has insisted that the reforms, intended to make Britain less attractive, were an “absolute requirement” of his bid to renegotiate Britain’s membership of the bloc before holding an in-out referendum in 2017.

According to Mr Cameron’s aides, the PM had briefed German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on his speech beforehand.

Afterwards, a Commission spokesman has said the EU’s executive arm was ready to discuss the proposals “calmly and carefully”, adding: “We have to see what can be done without shutting the door.”

The main proposals which depend on Cameron getting re-elected after general election 2015 will also include restricting the right of migrants to bring family members into Britain and speeding up deportation of convicted criminals.

Mr Cameron has said there was “no doubt” that the fresh package of proposals would require changes to the treaties governing the EU. He said he wanted the package to be adopted across the EU but that if it was not, he would seek a new arrangement applicable to Britain only.

But UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage said Cameron was “behind the curve” on immigration, which saw net arrivals rose to 260,000 last year.

While Labour leader Ed Miliband has said Mr Cameron had “no credibility” on the subject and voters would not believe his future promises, after he failed to cut net migration below 100,000 by 2015 as promised.

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