This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25481859

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Nick Clegg 'draws the line' against EU migrant curbs Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev warns Cameron on immigration
(about 5 hours later)
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said he "draws the line" against moves to curb immigration from the EU. The president of Bulgaria has issued a warning to David Cameron about his plans to toughen rules on immigration.
Writing in The Sunday Times, Mr Clegg said curbs on migrants' benefit rights were "sensible" but plans for a cap of 75,000 on EU migrants were "pointless". Rosen Plevneliev told the Observer Britain's image as a global power would be harmed if it moved towards what he described as isolation and nationalism.
Meanwhile, Bulgaria's president has criticised UK politicians who "play on people's fears" over immigration. Restrictions on movement of Bulgarians and Romanians within the EU are due to end on 1 January.
Restrictions on movement of Bulgarians and Romanians within the EU are due to end at the beginning of next month. There have been warnings from some UK politicians of an influx of migrants.
Measures to make EU migrants to the UK wait three months before they are eligible for out-of-work benefits and stop them claiming housing benefit until they have a job are planned by the coalition government. Measures to make EU migrants wait three months before they are eligible for out-of-work benefits and stop them claiming housing benefit until they have a job are planned by the coalition government.
'Tolerant and humane'
Bulgarian President Mr Plevneliev told the Observer Britain should stay true to its legacy as "a great global power that pioneered integration" and not play on people's fears.
"Isolating Britain and damaging Britain's reputation is not the right history to write," he said.
He added: "Bulgarian people are raising a lot of questions today about the democratic, tolerant and humane British society. Are we in Great Britain today writing a history of a switch to isolation, nationalism and short-term political approaches?
"Of course, Great Britain will make its planning and will take its decisions. But some of them could be right, some of them could be wrong. Some of them are bold and some of them are, I would say, not long-term orientated decisions."
He said politicians should be "ready to say the inconvenient truth" and "fight for unpleasant but necessary decisions".
Last month, the country's ambassador, Konstantin Dimitrov, said about 8,000 migrants a year from Bulgaria could come to the UK when the restrictions end.
'No-entry sign''No-entry sign'
These are intended to be in place by 1 January when restrictions on the movement on Bulgarian and Romanian nationals in the EU are lifted. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said curbs on migrants' benefit rights were "sensible and reasonable" but plans for a cap of 75,000 on EU migrants were "pointless".
Mr Clegg said: "These are sensible and reasonable reforms that will help preserve the UK's open and welcoming nature." He has already condemned Home Office plans for a possible cap, leaked last week, as "illegal and unworkable".
He said if such rules were applied to Britons living abroad, they would be considered fair. Home Secretary Theresa May said she was "not proposing to introduce such a cap now" but there was a "possibility of reform in the future".
"But this is where we draw the line," he went on. "Talk of arbitrary caps on the number of EU nationals is as pointless as it is distracting." Mr Clegg wrote in the Sunday Times: "Talk of arbitrary caps on the number of EU nationals is as pointless as it is distracting."
He added: "Sticking a big no-entry sign on the cliffs of Dover may be politically popular, but at a huge economic cost.He added: "Sticking a big no-entry sign on the cliffs of Dover may be politically popular, but at a huge economic cost.
"What would happen if tonight every European living in the UK boarded a ship or plane and went home?"What would happen if tonight every European living in the UK boarded a ship or plane and went home?
"Are we really that keen to see the back of German lawyers, Dutch accountants or Finnish engineers? Do we want the NHS to fall over and the City of London to grind to a halt?""Are we really that keen to see the back of German lawyers, Dutch accountants or Finnish engineers? Do we want the NHS to fall over and the City of London to grind to a halt?"
Such a cap could lead to tit-for-tat restrictions on Britons living abroad, he said, and Britain would be "one step closer to the exit" from the EU, putting economic recovery at risk.Such a cap could lead to tit-for-tat restrictions on Britons living abroad, he said, and Britain would be "one step closer to the exit" from the EU, putting economic recovery at risk.
'Wise men'
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev told the Observer that Britain should stay true to its legacy as "a great global power that pioneered integration" and not play on people's fears.
"Isolating Britain and damaging Britain's reputation is not the right history to write," he said.
He added: "Bulgarian people are raising a lot of questions today about the democratic, tolerant and humane British society. Are we in Great Britain today writing a history of a switch to isolation, nationalism and short-term political approaches?
"Of course, Great Britain will make its planning and will take its decisions. But some of them could be right, some of them could be wrong. Some of them are bold and some of them are, I would say, not long-term orientated decisions."
He said politicians should be "ready to say the inconvenient truth" and "fight for unpleasant but necessary decisions".