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| David Cameron seeks EU support for new migration curbs | David Cameron seeks EU support for new migration curbs |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron has passionately urged other EU leaders to support his "reasonable" proposals for far-reaching curbs on welfare benefits for migrants. | David Cameron has passionately urged other EU leaders to support his "reasonable" proposals for far-reaching curbs on welfare benefits for migrants. |
| Britain's prime minister said lower EU migration would be a priority in future negotiations on the UK's membership and he said would "rule nothing out" if he did not get the changes he wanted. | Britain's prime minister said lower EU migration would be a priority in future negotiations on the UK's membership and he said would "rule nothing out" if he did not get the changes he wanted. |
| Under his plans, migrants will have to wait four years for certain benefits. | Under his plans, migrants will have to wait four years for certain benefits. |
| Brussels said the ideas were "part of the debate" to be "calmly considered". | |
| But UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the PM was "behind the curve" on immigration, while Labour said Mr Cameron had "no credibility" on the subject. | |
| In a long-awaited speech in a factory in the West Midlands, Mr Cameron said he was confident he could 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. | |
| But he warned 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. | But he warned 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. |
| The main proposals in the speech - which are dependent on Mr Cameron remaining in power after May's general election - are: | The main proposals in the speech - which are dependent on Mr Cameron remaining in power after May's general election - are: |
| Mr Cameron said there was "no doubt" his package of proposals would require changes to the treaties governing the European Union. | |
| 'Must be heard' | |
| He began his speech by saying migration had benefited the UK and that he was proud of the "multiracial" nature of modern Britain. | |
| But he said immigration levels in recent years, which he said were the largest in peacetime, had put unsustainable pressure on public services. | But he said immigration levels in recent years, which he said were the largest in peacetime, had put unsustainable pressure on public services. |
| He said the UK public's concerns about levels of EU immigration were "not outlandish or unreasonable" and the changes will create the "toughest welfare system" for migration in Europe. | |
| "We deserve to be heard and we must be heard," he said. "Here is an issue which matters to the British people and to our future of the European Union. | "We deserve to be heard and we must be heard," he said. "Here is an issue which matters to the British people and to our future of the European Union. |
| "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." | "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 said he wanted the package to be adopted across the EU but that if it was not, he would seek a new arrangement applying only to the UK. | |
| 'Cap dropped' | 'Cap dropped' |
| 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 the proposed four-year limit on benefits would be difficult to negotiate in Brussels. |
| Ideas of a cap on the numbers coming in had been abandoned, he added, amid the realisation he could not get support from other EU leaders for it. | |
| Analysis by BBC political editor Nick Robinson | Analysis by BBC political editor Nick Robinson |
| It is a speech which David Cameron and his advisers have agonised over for months. | It is a speech which David Cameron and his advisers have agonised over for months. |
| 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. | 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. |
| What is revealing is not just what has stayed in but what has come out. | What is revealing is not just what has stayed in but what has come out. |
| Read more from Nick | Read more from Nick |
| 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. |
| Outlining proposed restrictions on tax credits and child benefits, Mr Cameron said a migrant in work with two children was getting £700 a month on average in support from the state, twice the amount paid in Germany and three times as much as in France. | |
| "No wonder so many people want to come to Britain," he said. | |
| Mr Cameron responded 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". | Mr Cameron responded 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". |
| He acknowledged the goal would not met by May, saying "more time and work" was needed and "additional metrics" would be applied. | He acknowledged the goal would not met by May, saying "more time and work" was needed and "additional metrics" would be applied. |
| Asked if the British public were owed an apology, Mr Cameron said he had not anticipated the eurozone would have suffered "three recessions in six years". | Asked if the British public were owed an apology, Mr Cameron said he had not anticipated the eurozone would have suffered "three recessions in six years". |
| 'Action now' | 'Action now' |
| Former Conservative minister Sir Gerald Howarth questioned whether the measures would be enough to reduce migration numbers. | |
| 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". | 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". |
| Analysis by BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani | Analysis by BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani |
| The prime minister's speech on immigration has been billed as a plan that will change the face of the nation. | The prime minister's speech on immigration has been billed as a plan that will change the face of the nation. |
| But the official figures published on Thursday show how it has already been transformed and will continue to change in an era of mass movement of people. | |
| Read more from Dominic | Read more from Dominic |
| The Conservatives' 2010 election manifesto said the party would "take steps to take net migration back to... 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. | 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. |
| 'No drama' | |
| 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 in 2010. | |
| Reacting to Mr Cameron's speech, Mr Miliband said: "This is somebody who made a promise at the last general election. He said 'no ifs, no buts' he will get net migration down and it's gone up." | |
| Mr Farage said the prime minister should have apologised for missing his immigration target, and said he was "playing catch-up" with UKIP. | |
| European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said : "These are UK ideas and they are part of the debate. | |
| "They will have to be examined without drama and should be discussed calmly and carefully. It is up to national lawmakers to fight against abuses of the system and the EU law allows for this." | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Have your say | Have your say |