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Migrants: David Cameron set to outline benefit restrictions Immigration: David Cameron to outline benefit restrictions
(about 5 hours later)
The prime minister will set out plans to curb welfare benefits for migrants from the EU in a speech later. The prime minister will set out plans to curb welfare benefits for migrants from the EU in a speech shortly.
He will say European migrants should have to wait at least four years before receiving benefits such as welfare payments or council houses. David Cameron will say EU migrants should have to wait at least four years before receiving benefits such as tax credits or council houses.
And he will insist that such reform is an "absolute requirement" in negotiations over whether Britain stays in the EU. He will insist the changes, which he will seek if he is elected in May, are an "absolute requirement" in future talks over whether to stay in the EU.
It follows news that net migration to the UK has risen above 2010 levels.It follows news that net migration to the UK has risen above 2010 levels.
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. In a long-awaited speech in the West Midlands, Mr Cameron will say he is confident that he can change the basis of EU migration into the UK and therefore campaign for the UK to stay in the EU in a future referendum planned for 2017.
Some 228,000 EU citizens came to the UK in the year to June 2014, the Office for National Statistics said. But he will warn that if the UK's demands fall on "deaf ears" he will "rule nothing out" - the strongest hint to date he could countenance the UK leaving the EU.
Mr Cameron will reply to criticism that his stated aim to reduce net migration below 100,000 is "in tatters". The main proposals in the speech - which are dependent on Mr Cameron remaining in power after May's general election - are:
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. Mr Cameron will say the UK public's concerns about levels of EU immigration over the past decade are "not outlandish or unreasonable" and the changes will create the "toughest welfare system" for migration in Europe.
'Cap abandoned' "We deserve to be heard and we must be heard," he will say. "Here is an issue which matters to the British people and to our future of the European Union.
The renegotiation would be followed by a referendum on whether or not the UK should stay in the EU. "The British people will not understand - frankly I will not understand - if a sensible way through cannot be found, which will help settle this country's place in the EU once and for all."
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. 'Cap dropped'
He added that the prime minister would "hint at the exit door, something some of his most ardent internal critics have longed for." 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 the proposed four-year limit on benefits would be difficult to negotiate in Brussels.
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 amid the realisation he could not get support from other EU leaders for it.
But he added that ideas of a cap on the numbers coming in had been abandoned. Analysis by BBC political editor Nick Robinson
Analysis It is a speech which David Cameron and his advisers have agonised over for months.
BBC political correspondent Robin Brant Ideas for it have been floated in the media, tested in capitals across Europe, debated with civil servants and, no doubt, market tested as well.
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. What is revealing is not just what has stayed in but what has come out.
The list of other reforms also sends out a clear message about trying to make the UK far less attractive to some EU workers. Read more from Nick
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. 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.
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. Mr Cameron will reply to criticism that the Conservatives' stated aim in opposition to reduce overall levels of net migration below 100,000 - which has never been a coalition target due to Lib Dem opposition - is "in tatters".
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". 'Action now'
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. Former Conservative minister Sir Gerald Howarth said the speech contained "good measures" but questioned whether they would be enough to reduce migration numbers.
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. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We need action this day and our view is that we need to restore to the UK Parliament, immediately, control over our borders and if the Liberals don't like it then let's go to the country".
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. London Mayor Boris Johnson said Mr Cameron was "on pretty much the right lines" in trying to stop the UK's welfare system from being "a suction force".
But he warned against discouraging "talent" from moving to Britain, adding: "The last thing we should be is negative."
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 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.
Net migration - the numbers coming to live in Britain minus those leaving - is estimated to have risen by 78,000 to 260,000 in the year to June, 16,000 higher than it was when the coalition government was formed in 2010.
Some 228,000 EU citizens came to the UK in the year to June 2014, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics on Thursday.
The figures led Mr Cameron's political rivals to say the Conservatives' policy on immigration had failed.
'Dishonest'
Lib Dem Deputy PM Nick Clegg, who has called for a higher earnings threshold for tax credits and other benefits rather than a ban, 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' And shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the target had been left in "tatters".
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: "Rather than ramping up the rhetoric, David Cameron must now set out sensible, practical plans."She said: "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. Labour's own proposals include a two-year ban on EU migrants claiming in-work benefits, a ban on child benefits being sent abroad and stopping firms exploiting immigration to undercut wages and jobs.
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.
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.
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.
Have you moved to the UK from another EU country in the last four years? Will you be affected by the proposed changes? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your reaction to the proposals.
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