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David Cameron set to outline immigration proposals David Cameron set to outline immigration proposals
(35 minutes later)
The prime minister will set out plans to tighten immigration laws in a speech later amid accusations that his bid to reduce net migration lies in tatters. The prime minister will set out plans to curb welfare benefits for migrants from the EU in a speech later.
Net migration to the UK is estimated to be 260,000 in the year to June - 78,000 higher than the previous year. He will say European migrants should have to wait at least four years before receiving benefits such as welfare payments or council houses.
Mr Cameron will reply to criticism that his stated aim to reduce net migration below 100,000 has "totally failed". And he will insist that such reform is an "absolute requirement" in negotiations over whether Britain stays in the EU.
And he is expected to say he will back leaving the EU if he cannot secure curbs on migrants' access to benefits. It follows news that net migration to the UK has risen above 2010 levels.
He will say EU migrants should have to wait at least four years before receiving benefits such as welfare payments or council houses, and he will insist that welfare reform in this regard is an "absolute requirement". Net migration - the numbers coming to live in Britain minus those leaving - is estimated to have been 260,000 in the year to June - 78,000 higher than the previous year, according to figures released on Thursday.
On BBC One's Question Time on Thursday following the publication of the immigration figures, Conservative chief whip Michael Gove said it was "pretty clear after today" that the government had failed to meet its immigration target. Some 228,000 EU citizens came to the UK in the year to June 2014, the Office for National Statistics said.
Mr Cameron will reply to criticism that his stated aim to reduce net migration below 100,000 is "in tatters".
His speech has long been trailed as one likely to set out what changes he wants to see to the rules on migration as part of his planned renegotiation of the UK's relationship with the rest of the European Union if the Conservatives win the next election.
'Cap abandoned'
The renegotiation would be followed by a referendum on whether or not the UK should stay in the EU.
Mr Cameron hopes the speech will be a "game changer" and keep his own Eurosceptic MPs at bay while attempting to win back those supporters who have crossed over to UKIP, BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said.Mr Cameron hopes the speech will be a "game changer" and keep his own Eurosceptic MPs at bay while attempting to win back those supporters who have crossed over to UKIP, BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said.
He added that the prime minister would "hint at the exit door, something some of his most ardent internal critics have longed for."He added that the prime minister would "hint at the exit door, something some of his most ardent internal critics have longed for."
He predicted that Mr Cameron would say migrant welfare room was an "absolute requirement" and that if he remained prime minister after the next election he would go into negotiations with the other 27 member states with no "wiggle room" on the issue. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Cameron's welfare curbs were "a tougher version of an approach already set out by Labour and the Liberal Democrats".
But he added that ideas of a cap on the numbers coming in had been abandoned.
AnalysisAnalysis
BBC political correspondent Robin BrantBBC political correspondent Robin Brant
The speech certainly looks tough. A four-year wait for in-work benefits goes further than what Labour and the Liberal Democrats have touched on.The speech certainly looks tough. A four-year wait for in-work benefits goes further than what Labour and the Liberal Democrats have touched on.
The list of other reforms also sends out a clear message about trying to make the UK far less attractive to some EU workers.The list of other reforms also sends out a clear message about trying to make the UK far less attractive to some EU workers.
But what is missing is intriguing. The kite-flying of the past few months has seen the suggestion raised of a cap, or emergency brake, on people coming to the UK. But this measure does not appear in the speech, which is evidence that the prime minister knows what he is proposing has to be deliverable.But what is missing is intriguing. The kite-flying of the past few months has seen the suggestion raised of a cap, or emergency brake, on people coming to the UK. But this measure does not appear in the speech, which is evidence that the prime minister knows what he is proposing has to be deliverable.
It won't be a speech that criticises immigration, it will highlight how important the prime minister thinks it's been to the country. But he will acknowledge he needs to get a grip. "I get that," he'll say.It won't be a speech that criticises immigration, it will highlight how important the prime minister thinks it's been to the country. But he will acknowledge he needs to get a grip. "I get that," he'll say.
The Conservatives' 2010 election manifesto said "We will take steps to take net migration back to the levels of the 1990s - tens of thousands a year, not hundreds of thousands".The Conservatives' 2010 election manifesto said "We will take steps to take net migration back to the levels of the 1990s - tens of thousands a year, not hundreds of thousands".
But the Lib Dems opposed that idea and the coalition agreement pledged only an "annual limit" on people coming to the UK from outside the European Union for economic reasons, without a specific number.But the Lib Dems opposed that idea and the coalition agreement pledged only an "annual limit" on people coming to the UK from outside the European Union for economic reasons, without a specific number.
As the Office for National Statistics published the latest figures on Thursday, Mr Cameron was criticised by other political leaders for making the pledge in the first place.As the Office for National Statistics published the latest figures on Thursday, Mr Cameron was criticised by other political leaders for making the pledge in the first place.
Lib Dem deputy PM Nick Clegg said it had made no sense to put a specific number on it - as the government did not have complete control over a net target - and said "over-promising and under-delivering" did damage to public confidence in the immigration system.Lib Dem deputy PM Nick Clegg said it had made no sense to put a specific number on it - as the government did not have complete control over a net target - and said "over-promising and under-delivering" did damage to public confidence in the immigration system.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said Mr Cameron had made a "dishonest promise" as it was not possible to reduce net migration by such an extent while the UK was a member of the European Union.UKIP leader Nigel Farage said Mr Cameron had made a "dishonest promise" as it was not possible to reduce net migration by such an extent while the UK was a member of the European Union.
'System is fair''System is fair'
And Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the target had been left in "tatters" adding that net migration was now "16,000 higher than when they took office, and almost three times their target level".And Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the target had been left in "tatters" adding that net migration was now "16,000 higher than when they took office, and almost three times their target level".
She said: "Immigration is important to Britain - that's why it needs to be controlled and managed so that the system is fair. She said: "Rather than ramping up the rhetoric, David Cameron must now set out sensible, practical plans."
"Rather than ramping up the rhetoric, David Cameron must now set out sensible, practical plans."
She added that Labour's own proposals included stopping firms exploiting immigration to undercut wages and jobs, longer waiting periods for out of work benefits, changes so that in-work benefits were not immediately available, and a bar on child benefit being sent abroad.She added that Labour's own proposals included stopping firms exploiting immigration to undercut wages and jobs, longer waiting periods for out of work benefits, changes so that in-work benefits were not immediately available, and a bar on child benefit being sent abroad.
The latest 260,000 figure for estimated net migration - calculated by taking away the number of people leaving the country from the number coming in - is 16,000 higher than it was when the coalition government was formed in 2010.The latest 260,000 figure for estimated net migration - calculated by taking away the number of people leaving the country from the number coming in - is 16,000 higher than it was when the coalition government was formed in 2010.
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said the figures were "deeply, deeply significant" and "deeply awkward for David Cameron".
Mr Cameron's speech has long been trailed as one likely to set out what changes he wants to see to the rules on migration within the EU as part of his planned renegotiation of the UK's relationship with the rest of the European Union.
He has said that if the Conservatives win the next election the renegotiation would take place, followed by a referendum on whether or not the UK should stay in the EU.
At the moment EU citizens are free to come to the UK and compete for jobs without being subject to any immigration controls. Those from outside the EU face much tighter controls if they wish to enter the country.At the moment EU citizens are free to come to the UK and compete for jobs without being subject to any immigration controls. Those from outside the EU face much tighter controls if they wish to enter the country.
Some 228,000 EU citizens came to the UK in the year to June 2014, the Office for National Statistics said, while the number of people immigrating from outside the EU rose to 272,000.
Migration Watch UK said the figures were "disappointing" but that a target should remain in place.
Labour says they would reduce the number of low-skilled migrants coming to the country by enforcing the minimum wage, tackling rogue landlords and limiting access to social security.
Net migration peaked at 320,000 in 2005. It fell to a low of 154,000 in the year ending September 2012.Net migration peaked at 320,000 in 2005. It fell to a low of 154,000 in the year ending September 2012.