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Clegg not aware of Tory EU 'immigration brake' proposal | Clegg not aware of Tory EU 'immigration brake' proposal |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Conservative ministers have "never breathed a word" in government about reported plans for an "emergency brake" on EU immigration, Nick Clegg has said. | Conservative ministers have "never breathed a word" in government about reported plans for an "emergency brake" on EU immigration, Nick Clegg has said. |
David Cameron is considering demanding the power to block new arrivals from some EU states if they rise above a certain level, according to The Times. | David Cameron is considering demanding the power to block new arrivals from some EU states if they rise above a certain level, according to The Times. |
Mr Clegg dismissed the story as another sign of the "blind panic" the Tories were in over UKIP. | Mr Clegg dismissed the story as another sign of the "blind panic" the Tories were in over UKIP. |
"No Conservative has ever put any proposal to me," said Mr Clegg on LBC. | "No Conservative has ever put any proposal to me," said Mr Clegg on LBC. |
According to The Times story, which is attributed to government sources, the prime minister has promised backbench Conservative MPs a "game changing" announcement on immigration, which would "almost certainly" come before Christmas. | |
Some Conservative MPs are understood to be pushing for the announcement to be made before the Rochester and Strood by-election, triggered by the defection of Conservative MP Mark Reckless to UKIP, on 20 November, at which immigration is expected to be a major factor. | |
'Complete flap' | |
Among the "radical" options being considered by the government is an "emergency brake" on immigration from some EU countries, according to the Times. | |
The Sun newspaper goes further, saying Mr Cameron will "demand the right to limit European immigration" as the "price of staying in the EU". | |
But it says details of the proposed restrictions - which could involve caps on arrivals from certain countries or an "Australian-style" points system - have yet to be finalised. | |
Asked about the newspaper reports on his weekly LBC radio phone-in, Mr Clegg said: "The Conservative Party is in such a blind panic, a complete flap, about UKIP that every day I wake up to new headlines. | |
"No Conservative has ever put any proposal to me. They have never breathed a word of it government. Who knows? Maybe the press briefing they issue tomorrow will be different." | |
He added: "I think the Conservative Party have got a fundamental problem. They are running after UKIP in a complete panic." | |
'Increased numbers' | |
Mr Cameron is under pressure from Conservative MPs to set out details of his strategy for renegotiating the relationship with Brussels ahead of a promised 2017 in/out referendum if the party remains in power after next year's general election. | |
In his speech to the Conservative Party conference, Mr Cameron said: "Numbers that have increased faster than we in this country wanted…at a level that was too much for our communities, for our labour markets. All of this has to change - and it will be at the very heart of my renegotiation strategy for Europe. | |
"Britain, I know you want this sorted so I will go to Brussels, I will not take no for an answer and when it comes to free movement - I will get what Britain needs." | |
But Mr Cameron has declined to state whether he would be prepared to back a British exit if he does not get the concessions he wants, insisting he is confident of success in the negotiations. |