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Nick Clegg backs ending of child benefit payments for children who live abroad Nick Clegg backs ending of child benefit payments for children who live abroad
(about 1 hour later)
Nick Clegg has voiced strong support for coalition plans to end what he called the "perverse" system in which child benefit is paid for EU children living outside Britain whose parents work in the UK.Nick Clegg has voiced strong support for coalition plans to end what he called the "perverse" system in which child benefit is paid for EU children living outside Britain whose parents work in the UK.
The deputy prime minister said there was "complete unity" in the coalition over plans to tighten benefits for EU citizens as he said that the last Labour government had dealt a "body blow" by failing to impose limits when Poland and seven other eastern European countries joined the EU in 2004.The deputy prime minister said there was "complete unity" in the coalition over plans to tighten benefits for EU citizens as he said that the last Labour government had dealt a "body blow" by failing to impose limits when Poland and seven other eastern European countries joined the EU in 2004.
But Clegg dismissed a proposal, recently leaked by Theresa May's office, to impose a cap on the number of EU citizens that could come to Britain. He said David Cameron had also rejected the idea.But Clegg dismissed a proposal, recently leaked by Theresa May's office, to impose a cap on the number of EU citizens that could come to Britain. He said David Cameron had also rejected the idea.
On his weekly LBC phone-in, the deputy prime minister said: "What we are focusing on – and by the way in the coalition there is complete unity between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats – is to tighten up the rules about when you have access to benefits when you come to this country from other EU countries. On that I am as forceful as anybody else in saying if you come here to look for work – fine, you've got that right, just as we have got the right to do that in your country. But you don't necessarily have the right just to simply claim benefits no questions asked. On his weekly LBC phone-in, the deputy prime minister said: "What we are focusing on – and by the way in the coalition there is complete unity between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats – is to tighten up the rules about when you have access to benefits when you come to this country from other EU countries. On that I am as forceful as anybody else in saying if you come here to look for work – fine, you've got that right, just as we have got the right to do that in your country. But you don't necessarily have the right just to simply claim benefits, no questions asked.
"And, by the way, on that point I – like the prime minister and I suspect like a lot of people in this country – don't quite understand why on earth it is possible under our current rules to pay someone child benefit for children who aren't even in this country. That does seem to me to be perverse.""And, by the way, on that point I – like the prime minister and I suspect like a lot of people in this country – don't quite understand why on earth it is possible under our current rules to pay someone child benefit for children who aren't even in this country. That does seem to me to be perverse."
Clegg also endorsed Cameron's criticism of the last Labour government for failing to introduce seven-year "transitional controls", which would have imposed restrictions on the right to work in the UK, when Poland and seven other eastern European countries joined the EU in 2004. "That dealt a body blow to public trust and confidence in the way in which the immigration system works," he said. "We have been trying to avoid those past mistakes so we are lifting these last restrictions on those eligible to come here from Bulgaria and Romania, in keeping with other countries. But crucially we are breaking the link between the right to move to look for work and the right to claim benefits no questions asked, no strings attached, for as long as you like. We are the first government to do that." Clegg also endorsed Cameron's criticism of the last Labour government for failing to introduce seven-year "transitional controls", which would have imposed restrictions on the right to work in the UK, when Poland and seven other eastern European countries joined the EU in 2004. "That dealt a body blow to public trust and confidence in the way in which the immigration system works," he said. "We have been trying to avoid those past mistakes so we are lifting these last restrictions on those eligible to come here from Bulgaria and Romania, in keeping with other countries. But crucially we are breaking the link between the right to move to look for work and the right to claim benefits, no questions asked, no strings attached, for as long as you like. We are the first government to do that."
Poland, which criticised Cameron over his plans to restrict child benefit, will be disappointed by the remarks by the pro-European deputy prime minister. But Clegg indicated that the reforms would apply to all EU citizens unlike Cameron, who caused offence in Warsaw by singling out Britain's historic ally.Poland, which criticised Cameron over his plans to restrict child benefit, will be disappointed by the remarks by the pro-European deputy prime minister. But Clegg indicated that the reforms would apply to all EU citizens unlike Cameron, who caused offence in Warsaw by singling out Britain's historic ally.
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