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EU migrants would wait two years for jobless benefits, Labour says EU migrants would wait two years for jobless benefits, Labour says
(35 minutes later)
Jobless migrants from the EU would have to wait two years before they can claim out of work benefits, under new plans proposed by the Labour Party. EU migrants would have to wait two years before claiming out of work benefits, under new Labour Party plans.
They currently have to wait for three months to apply for income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. They currently have to wait for three months to apply for income-based jobseeker's allowance.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Rachel Reeves also wants to end child benefit being sent abroad and to curb in-work benefits paid to EU migrants.Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Rachel Reeves also wants to end child benefit being sent abroad and to curb in-work benefits paid to EU migrants.
Prime Minister David Cameron promised "clear plans" to limit EU migration. David Cameron pledged "clear plans" to cut EU migration, and UKIP said Labour were "twisting themselves into knots".
Labour said Ms Reeves had spoken to her counterparts from Europe on the issue.Labour said Ms Reeves had spoken to her counterparts from Europe on the issue.
Earlier, the party promised an extra 1,000 UK border guards if it wins the general election.Earlier, the party promised an extra 1,000 UK border guards if it wins the general election.
'Absurdity''Absurdity'
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the staff would be funded by a £10 fee for visitors from the United States and 55 other countries.Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the staff would be funded by a £10 fee for visitors from the United States and 55 other countries.
"It isn't racist to be worried about immigration or to call for immigration reform," she said."It isn't racist to be worried about immigration or to call for immigration reform," she said.
In an article for Mail Online, Ms Reeves said other countries, like Germany, had already gone further than the UK on the issue of qualifying periods for EU migrants.In an article for Mail Online, Ms Reeves said other countries, like Germany, had already gone further than the UK on the issue of qualifying periods for EU migrants.
"So we believe that it is right to extend the period that EU jobseekers need to live and support themselves in the UK before claiming out-of-work benefits from three months to two years," she said."So we believe that it is right to extend the period that EU jobseekers need to live and support themselves in the UK before claiming out-of-work benefits from three months to two years," she said.
She also promised to end the "absurdity" of child benefit and tax credits being sent abroad and said she was "determined" to look at possible changes to in-work benefits.She also promised to end the "absurdity" of child benefit and tax credits being sent abroad and said she was "determined" to look at possible changes to in-work benefits.
'Common sense''Common sense'
The European Commission has said it supports action by member states to tackle abuse of the benefits system by migrants but that it will not countenance restrictions on freedom of movement and labour across Europe.
The government has already tightened the rules so EU migrants have to wait three months after arriving in the UK before they can claim child benefit and child tax credits.
Migrants are also barred from claiming jobseeker's allowance after three months if they are not looking for work, and the prime minister has said he wants to go further.
Mr Cameron wants to reduce immigration from other EU nations ahead of the referendum he has promised on Britain's EU membership by 2017.Mr Cameron wants to reduce immigration from other EU nations ahead of the referendum he has promised on Britain's EU membership by 2017.
On a visit to Rochester ahead of Thursday's by-election he said: "People want to see carefully thought-through plans that can work - we've delivered a cut in net migration from outside the EU - we closed down bogus colleges - now people want to see clear plans on how we cut down on immigration from inside EU and that's exactly what ... I'll deliver." On a visit to Rochester ahead of Thursday's by-election he said the government had already reduced the numbers from outside Europe.
He recently welcomed a ruling backing Germany's attempts to restrict unemployed migrants' rights to welfare as "common sense" and said freedom of movement between countries should not be "an unqualified right". He added: "Now people want to see clear plans about how we control immigration from inside the EU - and that's exactly what, as prime minister, I will deliver."
The European Court of Justice recently backed Germany's attempts to restrict unemployed migrants' rights to welfare, a ruling welcomed by the UK government as "common sense".
UKIP migration spokesman Steven Woolfe said: "Ed Miliband's Labour Party are twisting themselves into knots trying to be UKIP, while trying to attack UKIP at the same time.
"This new idea of theirs will somehow, magically have to circumvent the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which the Labour Party keeps repeating its commitment to."