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David Cameron defiant over tougher EU benefit plans David Cameron defiant over tougher EU benefit plans
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron has defended plans to toughen welfare rules for EU migrants, saying he was sending a "clear message" to people that the UK was not a "soft touch" for claiming benefits.David Cameron has defended plans to toughen welfare rules for EU migrants, saying he was sending a "clear message" to people that the UK was not a "soft touch" for claiming benefits.
He said he shared public concerns about the end of work restrictions on Bulgarians and Romanians next month.He said he shared public concerns about the end of work restrictions on Bulgarians and Romanians next month.
Labour says he should have acted sooner and a European commissioner warned the UK risked being seen as "nasty".Labour says he should have acted sooner and a European commissioner warned the UK risked being seen as "nasty".
But the prime minister told the BBC: "British people expect fairness."But the prime minister told the BBC: "British people expect fairness."
"That is what this is about," he told the BBC's Nick Robinson. "It is about fair treatment for people who work hard and do the right thing.""That is what this is about," he told the BBC's Nick Robinson. "It is about fair treatment for people who work hard and do the right thing."
Downing Street said powers to deport homeless migrants and cut rights to unemployment and housing benefits, first revealed in an article in the Financial Times, would come in "as quickly as possible".Downing Street said powers to deport homeless migrants and cut rights to unemployment and housing benefits, first revealed in an article in the Financial Times, would come in "as quickly as possible".
Mr Cameron has announced measures including:Mr Cameron has announced measures including:
Mr Cameron questioned the principle of free movement of people across the EU, saying this right could not be "unqualified".Mr Cameron questioned the principle of free movement of people across the EU, saying this right could not be "unqualified".
"Yes, of course, there is a right to take up a specific position if you want to work but there should not be a freedom of movement to claim," he added.
He stressed the controls were "not just aimed at Romanians and Bulgarians" but would apply to "anyone in other EU countries thinking of coming to Britain because it is easier to claim benefits".
"I think it is very important to send out a clear message that this is not the case."
He suggested a future Conservative government, as part of its pledge to renegotiate EU membership, could seek more discretion over migration policy.He suggested a future Conservative government, as part of its pledge to renegotiate EU membership, could seek more discretion over migration policy.
Working with other like-minded EU governments, he said, it would look at allowing member states to halt arrivals if numbers exceeded a certain level.Working with other like-minded EU governments, he said, it would look at allowing member states to halt arrivals if numbers exceeded a certain level.
He also suggested freedom of movement should only be fully allowed if the average income of a country's people was not too far below the EU average.He also suggested freedom of movement should only be fully allowed if the average income of a country's people was not too far below the EU average.
"We are changing the rules so that no-one can come to this country and expect to get out-of-work benefits immediately," Mr Cameron wrote."We are changing the rules so that no-one can come to this country and expect to get out-of-work benefits immediately," Mr Cameron wrote.
Transitional controls limiting Bulgarian and Romanian workers' access to the UK labour market - in place since the two countries joined the EU in 2007 - will expire at the end of the year.Transitional controls limiting Bulgarian and Romanian workers' access to the UK labour market - in place since the two countries joined the EU in 2007 - will expire at the end of the year.
There have been warnings of an "influx" of low-skilled workers and calls from across the political spectrum to review migrants' access to the NHS and welfare system.There have been warnings of an "influx" of low-skilled workers and calls from across the political spectrum to review migrants' access to the NHS and welfare system.
Mr Andor described Mr Cameron's proposals as "an unfortunate over-reaction", adding that EU rules applied equally to all 28 member states and had been agreed to by the UK.Mr Andor described Mr Cameron's proposals as "an unfortunate over-reaction", adding that EU rules applied equally to all 28 member states and had been agreed to by the UK.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "dismantling" the rules could lead to a "slippery slope", adding: "The point is that the British public has not been told all the truth."He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "dismantling" the rules could lead to a "slippery slope", adding: "The point is that the British public has not been told all the truth."
He said that there were existing EU safeguards to prevent "benefit tourism", saying: "We would need a more accurate presentation of the reality, not under pressure, not under hysteria, as sometimes happens in the UK. I would insist on presenting the truth, not false assumptions."He said that there were existing EU safeguards to prevent "benefit tourism", saying: "We would need a more accurate presentation of the reality, not under pressure, not under hysteria, as sometimes happens in the UK. I would insist on presenting the truth, not false assumptions."
Immigration from Poland and other countries had benefited the UK economy, he said, arguing that the prime minister's suggestions risked "presenting the UK as a kind of nasty country in the European Union".Immigration from Poland and other countries had benefited the UK economy, he said, arguing that the prime minister's suggestions risked "presenting the UK as a kind of nasty country in the European Union".
And his fellow commissioner Ms Reding said the UK was "a big promoter of enlargement" and it was able to prevent this in future, as it was a decision which had to be reached unanimously by EU states.And his fellow commissioner Ms Reding said the UK was "a big promoter of enlargement" and it was able to prevent this in future, as it was a decision which had to be reached unanimously by EU states.
But freedom of movement was "non-negotiable for EU member states", she said.But freedom of movement was "non-negotiable for EU member states", she said.
However, a Downing Street spokesman insisted the changes would go ahead, saying: "This is what we are going to do."However, a Downing Street spokesman insisted the changes would go ahead, saying: "This is what we are going to do."
He added that this would happen "as quickly as possible", adding: "The prime minister is focused on ensuring we have the right rules."He added that this would happen "as quickly as possible", adding: "The prime minister is focused on ensuring we have the right rules."
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron said there should be "proper" controls on immigration.Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron said there should be "proper" controls on immigration.
He added: "It still baffles me why the last Labour government in 2004 decided to have no transitional controls at all."He added: "It still baffles me why the last Labour government in 2004 decided to have no transitional controls at all."
Answering an urgent question on Romanian and Bulgarian workers' rights, Home Secretary Theresa May said the European Commission had "so far failed" to deal properly with the situation.Answering an urgent question on Romanian and Bulgarian workers' rights, Home Secretary Theresa May said the European Commission had "so far failed" to deal properly with the situation.
The Lib Dems said the proposed "sensible" changes would "restore confidence" in the immigration system and "ensure that the right to work does not automatically mean the right to claim".The Lib Dems said the proposed "sensible" changes would "restore confidence" in the immigration system and "ensure that the right to work does not automatically mean the right to claim".
But shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the prime minister was "playing catch-up" and copying a Labour idea.But shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the prime minister was "playing catch-up" and copying a Labour idea.
During Commons exchanges with Home Secretary Theresa May she said the government's eight month delay meant that many of the measures would not be in place in time for the change in rules for Bulgarians and Romanians. During Commons exchanges with Home Secretary Theresa May she said many of the measures would not be in place in time for the change in rules for Bulgarians and Romanians.
Downing Street later made clear that the deportation of homeless people and six month limit on getting jobless benefits would be in force from 1 January, as well as the tougher habitual residence test (which determines general eligibility to many UK benefits). Downing Street later made clear that the deportation of homeless people and six-month limit on getting jobless benefits would be in force from 1 January, as well as the tougher habitual residence test (which determines general eligibility to many UK benefits).
The three month delay on claiming out of work benefits will take longer, because it requires legislation, while it is not yet known when, and for how long, housing EU migrants would not be able to claim benefits. The three-month delay on claiming out-of-work benefits will take longer, because it requires legislation, while it is not yet known when, and for how long, housing EU migrants would not be able to claim benefits.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the UK was "still being far too generous", adding: "Under his proposal, somebody can come here on 1 January from Romania and within 12 weeks be entitled to unemployment benefit."UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the UK was "still being far too generous", adding: "Under his proposal, somebody can come here on 1 January from Romania and within 12 weeks be entitled to unemployment benefit."
MigrationWatch UK has said it expects 50,000 people to come from Bulgaria and Romania to the UK in each of the next five years but the Bulgarian ambassador has said he believes the figure will be much lower - predicting levels of about 8,000.MigrationWatch UK has said it expects 50,000 people to come from Bulgaria and Romania to the UK in each of the next five years but the Bulgarian ambassador has said he believes the figure will be much lower - predicting levels of about 8,000.
Many Conservative MPs urged the home secretary, during the Commons exchanges, to defy the EU and extend the transitional controls on Bulgarians and Romanians. She replied that the UK would not go outside the law. Many Conservative MPs urged the home secretary, during the Commons exchanges, to defy the EU and extend the transitional controls on Bulgarians and Romanians.
She replied that the UK would not go outside the law.