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| Chris Grayling accuses Lib Dems of blocking tougher immigration controls | Chris Grayling accuses Lib Dems of blocking tougher immigration controls |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| A senior Conservative has accused the Liberal Democrats of blocking tougher controls on Bulgarian and Romanian workers, sparking a coalition row in the last hours before Britain's borders are opened to immigrants from the two newest EU countries. | |
| Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, spoke out after 90 Tory activists wrote to the prime minister urging him to apply emergency powers before controls on immigration from the eastern European countries end on New Year's Day. | Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, spoke out after 90 Tory activists wrote to the prime minister urging him to apply emergency powers before controls on immigration from the eastern European countries end on New Year's Day. |
| In a letter to David Cameron, the Tory grassroots campaigners said the government has the ability to stop a potential influx of immigrants from Bulgaria and Romania, because EU law allows a country to extend controls if it is "undergoing or foresees serious labour market disturbances". | In a letter to David Cameron, the Tory grassroots campaigners said the government has the ability to stop a potential influx of immigrants from Bulgaria and Romania, because EU law allows a country to extend controls if it is "undergoing or foresees serious labour market disturbances". |
| But when asked about the powers, Grayling signalled that the Liberal Democrats had stopped the Conservatives bringing in stricter rules and "sorting out" the issue before the deadline. His comments were immediately rubbished by Lib Dem sources, who said the Tories had never even suggested trying to further restrict immigration from Bulgaria and Romania because it would be illegal under EU law. | But when asked about the powers, Grayling signalled that the Liberal Democrats had stopped the Conservatives bringing in stricter rules and "sorting out" the issue before the deadline. His comments were immediately rubbished by Lib Dem sources, who said the Tories had never even suggested trying to further restrict immigration from Bulgaria and Romania because it would be illegal under EU law. |
| Downing Street fears that the public will react badly if there is an influx of immigrants from the two countries when restrictions end on 1 January 2014. From that date citizens from the two newest EU member states will be allowed to travel to the UK to look for work and claim limited benefits. Previously they have had to apply for permits, and low-skilled workers were restricted by quotas. | |
| In the run up to the deadline Labour has accused the coalition of failing to do enough to address concerns and Ukip has been predicting an influx of immigrants in the hundreds of thousands. | |
| But Grayling suggested on Monday that the Tories have had their hands tied on the issue by the Lib Dems. "The reality is that we're not a majority party in the House of Commons," he told Radio 4's Today programme. "The Conservative party would not be able to get through the Commons some of the things we might like to do in changing our relationship with the EU. | But Grayling suggested on Monday that the Tories have had their hands tied on the issue by the Lib Dems. "The reality is that we're not a majority party in the House of Commons," he told Radio 4's Today programme. "The Conservative party would not be able to get through the Commons some of the things we might like to do in changing our relationship with the EU. |
| "David Cameron has said very clearly he'd like to see tougher rules in future, and we've always said we would have implemented tougher rules in the past, but we don't have a majority. We've always said if people want us really to sort out our relationship with the EU to deal with issues causing massive concern to people, then they are going to have to have a majority Conservative government after the next election, because Labour and the Lib Dems are happy as things are." | "David Cameron has said very clearly he'd like to see tougher rules in future, and we've always said we would have implemented tougher rules in the past, but we don't have a majority. We've always said if people want us really to sort out our relationship with the EU to deal with issues causing massive concern to people, then they are going to have to have a majority Conservative government after the next election, because Labour and the Lib Dems are happy as things are." |
| Senior Liberal Democrats said they "don't know what Chris Grayling is talking about" and urged people to be realistic about lifting of restrictions. "The extension of transitional controls is not something the Conservatives have even discussed with the Lib Dems," one said. | Senior Liberal Democrats said they "don't know what Chris Grayling is talking about" and urged people to be realistic about lifting of restrictions. "The extension of transitional controls is not something the Conservatives have even discussed with the Lib Dems," one said. |
| "There is a long-agreed government position, which is for Britain, like many other countries in the European Union, to lift transitional controls on January 1st. It is also the case, that extending transitional controls beyond the maximum seven years imposed by the coalition government is not compatible with our EU treaty obligations." | "There is a long-agreed government position, which is for Britain, like many other countries in the European Union, to lift transitional controls on January 1st. It is also the case, that extending transitional controls beyond the maximum seven years imposed by the coalition government is not compatible with our EU treaty obligations." |
| To coincide with the deadline David Cameron has rushed through changes to the law to make sure European immigrants have to wait at least three months before claiming jobseeker's allowance and most would only get that benefit for a maximum of six months. They will also have to sit a more difficult test of their English skills and employment prospects if they want to claim jobless benefits. | |
| The government is also intending to make visitors and temporary migrants pay for hospital treatment, though it has backed away from charging for GP services. Following concerns that doctors will have to act as border guards, Lord Howe, a health minister, promised that no one would be made to pay up front for medical care. | The government is also intending to make visitors and temporary migrants pay for hospital treatment, though it has backed away from charging for GP services. Following concerns that doctors will have to act as border guards, Lord Howe, a health minister, promised that no one would be made to pay up front for medical care. |
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