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EU referendum: UK 'will listen to other ideas to cut migration' EU referendum: UK 'will listen to other ideas to cut migration'
(about 1 hour later)
Philip Hammond has said the UK is willing to consider other proposals to reduce levels of EU migration amid reported opposition to its plan to limit access to in-work benefits.Philip Hammond has said the UK is willing to consider other proposals to reduce levels of EU migration amid reported opposition to its plan to limit access to in-work benefits.
The foreign secretary said the UK's plan to stop migrants claiming in-work benefits for four years was the "only proposal on the table" right now.The foreign secretary said the UK's plan to stop migrants claiming in-work benefits for four years was the "only proposal on the table" right now.
But he said alternative ideas that had the "same effect" would be listened to.But he said alternative ideas that had the "same effect" would be listened to.
No 10 has rejected media reports that it may back down on the key demand.No 10 has rejected media reports that it may back down on the key demand.
Downing Street has insisted David Cameron will put it forward when EU leaders discuss the UK's renegotiation aims at a summit later this week. Downing Street has said David Cameron will put forward the benefits waiting time when EU leaders discuss the UK's renegotiation aims at a summit later this week and insisted the British people need action on this and all other aspects of his four-point plan.
Mr Cameron is pushing for EU reforms ahead of the UK's in-out referendum, which he has promised will take place before the end of 2017.Mr Cameron is pushing for EU reforms ahead of the UK's in-out referendum, which he has promised will take place before the end of 2017.
The proposed changes to welfare rules are the most contentious part of the UK's four-point plan, with several European leaders objecting to them. Ministers say the "pull factors" encouraging migrants to come to the UK need to be addressed but several European leaders object to the UK's proposals while Conservative Eurosceptics argue the curbs will make little difference to overall levels of immigration and the focus should be on reclaiming powers for the UK Parliament to set its own borders policy.
Ministers say the "pull factors" encouraging migrants to come to the UK need to be addressed but Conservative Eurosceptics argue the curbs will make little difference to overall levels of immigration and the focus should be on reclaiming powers for the UK Parliament to set its own borders policy.
'Clear and consistent''Clear and consistent'
Speaking ahead of a meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Brussels, Mr Hammond said requiring EU migrants to wait four years to receive in-work benefits, such as tax credits, had been a "consistent demand".Speaking ahead of a meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Brussels, Mr Hammond said requiring EU migrants to wait four years to receive in-work benefits, such as tax credits, had been a "consistent demand".
"We've put that proposal on the table. It's very clear," he said."We've put that proposal on the table. It's very clear," he said.
But he suggested the UK was prepared to look at other options as long as their ultimate impact was the same.But he suggested the UK was prepared to look at other options as long as their ultimate impact was the same.
"We've heard a lot of our partners in Europe have concerns about it. So far we haven't heard any counter proposals. We haven't heard any alternative suggestions that will deliver the same effect in a different way."We've heard a lot of our partners in Europe have concerns about it. So far we haven't heard any counter proposals. We haven't heard any alternative suggestions that will deliver the same effect in a different way.
"But we have made very clear if people have other ideas that will deliver on this very important agenda for British people we're absolutely prepared to listen to them and we're prepared to enter into a dialogue about them, but at the moment the only proposition on the table is our four year proposal.""But we have made very clear if people have other ideas that will deliver on this very important agenda for British people we're absolutely prepared to listen to them and we're prepared to enter into a dialogue about them, but at the moment the only proposition on the table is our four year proposal."
When he speaks at the two-day EU summit beginning on Thursday, Mr Cameron is expected to emphasise that levels of migration from the EU to the UK are a "major concern for the British people".
The prime minister has acknowledged no agreement will be reached this week on the UK's wider agenda for reform but senior Conservatives are hopeful that progress can be made paving the way for a possible deal in February.The prime minister has acknowledged no agreement will be reached this week on the UK's wider agenda for reform but senior Conservatives are hopeful that progress can be made paving the way for a possible deal in February.
Asked whether Mr Cameron was prepared to compromise on the four-year limit, Downing Street said he was "open to looking at new ways of dealing with the issue" but the basis for discussions would be "what's on the table".
The UK was seeking "significant, far-reaching reforms", the spokeswoman added, and "you would not expect that to be done overnight".
'Froth and nonsense''Froth and nonsense'
But speaking on Sunday, former Conservative Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, a member of the Vote Leave campaign, described the idea of limiting migrants' benefits as a "sideshow" rather than the "major renegotiation" in UK-EU relations that had been promised.But speaking on Sunday, former Conservative Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, a member of the Vote Leave campaign, described the idea of limiting migrants' benefits as a "sideshow" rather than the "major renegotiation" in UK-EU relations that had been promised.
"It is a worthwhile aim but in the general scheme of things, it is all pretty trivial," he told BBC News.
Although the prime minister was likely to win some minor concessions, he said the UK could end up in a "slightly worse" position if, as he expected, it remained on the margins of the eurozone as it proceeded down the road of much closer political and financial integration.Although the prime minister was likely to win some minor concessions, he said the UK could end up in a "slightly worse" position if, as he expected, it remained on the margins of the eurozone as it proceeded down the road of much closer political and financial integration.
"There is this massive negotiation going on within the EU creating what is going to be this new entity... I've said he (David Cameron) is rather like someone bobbing about in the back of a dinghy, being towed along by a Channel ferry."There is this massive negotiation going on within the EU creating what is going to be this new entity... I've said he (David Cameron) is rather like someone bobbing about in the back of a dinghy, being towed along by a Channel ferry.
"This is all froth and nonsense really that he is concentrating on just one little issue, which is migration. We want to decide our migration policy in our own Parliament.""This is all froth and nonsense really that he is concentrating on just one little issue, which is migration. We want to decide our migration policy in our own Parliament."
And the Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan told the Daily Politics the PM's demands were not based on the UK's national interests but "what he knows he can get so that he can come back and declare victory".
But former Tory minister Damian Green, a strong advocate of remaining within the EU, told the same programme there was a "real negotiation" going on and the benefits limit was just one of a series of important objectives.
"Frankly nothing the prime minister brought back would satisfy the sort of hardline people who have always wanted to get out of the EU," he said.
Later on Monday, Labour peers are to make a fresh attempt to give 16 and 17 year olds a vote in the planned referendum on the UK's EU membership, after MPs voted for the third time last week to oppose it.Later on Monday, Labour peers are to make a fresh attempt to give 16 and 17 year olds a vote in the planned referendum on the UK's EU membership, after MPs voted for the third time last week to oppose it.
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