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thomas davison

David Cameron: we will keep out EU benefit tourists
Britain will demand new restrictions to keep out benefit tourists under a new relationship with the European Union, David Cameron has said.
The Prime Minister David Cameron appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show
David Cameron wants to stop EU immigrants claiming benefits in the UK idiot: BBC
Rowena Mason

By Rowena Mason, Political Correspondent

11:08AM GMT 06 Jan 2013

The Prime Minister suggested only working immigrants should be allowed into the country, even if it means undermining the EU's key principle of "free movement".

He said there are already some restrictions on immigration across the EU, which could be extended when Britain seeks a new settlement with Brussels over the next few years.

�Should we look at arguments about, should it be harder for people to come and live in Britain and claim benefits? Yes, frankly we should,� he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.

There are fears that Britain will see an influx of immigrants from new EU member states within the next year.

Five year old quotas limiting the number of people from Bulgaria and Romania who can move to live in Britain are due to expire.
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This will give 29 million Bulgarians and Romanians the right to live and work in Britain, in the same way as immigrants from Poland and other Eastern European countries entered the country from 2004 onwards.

Mr Cameron said stopping European immigrants claiming benefits is just one of a number of areas where Britain will try to re-negotiate its relationship with the EU.

The Prime Minister said he would also like the UK to be exempt from the Working Time Directive, which restricts the number of hours people can work.

�There are lots of things we�d be better off out of," he said. "The working time directive in my view should never have been introduced in the first place because it�s actually affecting things like the way we run our hospitals rather than simply about business and trade and the single market."

He said it is "perfectly acceptable" for Britain to make demands in exchange for other countries negotiating a closer union, despite fears that this will cause resentment within the EU.

Last month, the Prime Minister was chastised by a senior official for trying to pick and choose which EU laws Britain wants to follow.

Cecilia Malmstr�m, EU home affairs commissioner, suggested Mr Cameron should not be trying to claw back 136 powers related to law and order. This is the Prime Minister's first step towards re-negotiating wider powers over areas such as agriculture, justice and employment laws.

This morning, he insisted a looser relationship with Brussels will be possible, as he prepares to give a major speech setting out his vision for Britain's future in the EU.

He is expected to reveal a plan go into the next election promising to give UK voters a referendum on whether to stay in the EU with a new relationship or exit altogether.

If he can persuade Conservatives that Britain already has a better deal from Brussels, it would give him a better chance of persuading many voters to stay in the EU.

However, this will only be possible if other EU countries are willing to co-operate because they want to keep Britain in the union.

Mr Cameron today said Britain is better off staying part of the EU because it must have a "seat at the table" when trading laws are being negotiated.

Asked whether the UK should leave Europe, he said: �I don�t think it would be right for Britain. My policy, my approach is determined absolutely, purely, and simply by the national interest. What is right for Britain? What is right for people in work? What�s right for British business? What�s right for the future of our country?

�Fifty per cent of our trade is with the European Union. At the moment, because we�re in this single market, we have a seat at the table in the single market, we help write those rules. If we were outside the EU altogether, we�d still be trading with these European countries but we�d have no say.�

WHEN WILL THIS GOVERNMENT WAKE UP TO THE FACT THAT THESE SO CALLED IMMIGRANTS HAVE TAKEN BRITISH JOBS AND HOMES, THATS WHY WE HAVE OVER 2 MILLION UNEMPLOYED AND WITH ANOTHER 24 MILLION COMING NEXT YEAR THERE WILL BE NO JOBS, NO HOMES AND REAL RIVERS OF BLOOD IN OUR STREETS.