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Nick Clegg attacks EU commissioner over 'nasty country' comment Nick Clegg attacks EU commissioner over 'nasty country' comment
(about 1 hour later)
A senior Brussels official is "just plain wrong" that Britain risks being seen as a nasty country by restricting benefits available to EU migrants, Nick Clegg has said.A senior Brussels official is "just plain wrong" that Britain risks being seen as a nasty country by restricting benefits available to EU migrants, Nick Clegg has said.
In a robust defence of the David Cameron, Clegg backed the government plan to make new arrivals from the EU wait three months before getting unemployment benefit and ban them from claiming housing benefit. Many countries are now taking part in a "rational debate" about the issue, he added. In a robust defence of David Cameron, Clegg backed the government plan to make new arrivals from the EU wait three months before getting unemployment benefit and ban them from claiming housing benefit. Many countries are now taking part in a "rational debate" about the issue, he added.
It comes as the prime minister heads to Vilnius in Lithuania to urge fellow leaders to stop "vast migrations" from poor to rich countries in the economic bloc.It comes as the prime minister heads to Vilnius in Lithuania to urge fellow leaders to stop "vast migrations" from poor to rich countries in the economic bloc.
Downing Street also claims it has a growing coalition of support over the issue from wealthier states, as France and Germany revealed their intentions to restrict benefits for migrants as well.Downing Street also claims it has a growing coalition of support over the issue from wealthier states, as France and Germany revealed their intentions to restrict benefits for migrants as well.
Cameron's plans have put him on a collision course with Brussels, sparking a warning from the European commission president, José Manuel Barroso, that he must respect the fundamental EU principle of free movement. László Andor, the EU employment commissioner, also warned restricting benefits could portray Britain as "nasty".Cameron's plans have put him on a collision course with Brussels, sparking a warning from the European commission president, José Manuel Barroso, that he must respect the fundamental EU principle of free movement. László Andor, the EU employment commissioner, also warned restricting benefits could portray Britain as "nasty".
However, Clegg, speaking on LBC 97.3 Radio, said the commissioner is "just plain wrong". However, Clegg, speaking on LBC 97.3 Radio, said the commissioner was "just plain wrong".
"The new German government in its coalition agreement actually highlighted that this is an area that they themselves wanted to take action in," he said."The new German government in its coalition agreement actually highlighted that this is an area that they themselves wanted to take action in," he said.
"Member states are having a perfectly rational debate that says, as the EU grows and grow, we must, yes, protect the freedom for people to move, but that is not the same as saying you can claim benefits from day one, no strings attached."Member states are having a perfectly rational debate that says, as the EU grows and grow, we must, yes, protect the freedom for people to move, but that is not the same as saying you can claim benefits from day one, no strings attached.
"I don't think it's right for the commissioner to turn around and say this is just a British issue.""I don't think it's right for the commissioner to turn around and say this is just a British issue."
Although Downing Street claims support for its calls for reform, Cameron is going further than France and Germany in his calls for a debate about free movement. Brussels has made it clear this principle must be defended, with Viviane Reding, the EU justice commissioner, saying it is "non-negotiable". Although Downing Street claims support for its plans for change, Cameron is going further than France and Germany in his calls for a debate about free movement. Brussels has made it clear this principle must be defended, with Viviane Reding, the EU justice commissioner, saying it is "non-negotiable".
It is possible the commission could take legal action against the benefit restrictions either following a complaint or on its own initiative after seeing more details of the proposals. It is possible the commission could take legal action against the benefit restrictions either after a complaint or on its own initiative after seeing more details of the proposals.
Clegg said the UK would respect European legislation but the government believes the proposals are within the law. Clegg said the UK would respect European legislation but the government believed the proposals were within the law.
In the package, Cameron announced:In the package, Cameron announced:
• no newly arrived EU jobseekers will be able to claim housing benefit. • 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 for more than a maximum of six months unless they can prove that they have a genuine prospect of employment. • 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 for more than 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. • A 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". • 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".
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