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Cameron warns he will "rule nothing out" if other EU states ignore British immigration concerns

David Cameron has hinted that Britain could leave the European Union if other EU states object to...
Newstalk
Newstalk

12.22 28 Nov 2014


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Cameron warns he will &#34...

Cameron warns he will "rule nothing out" if other EU states ignore British immigration concerns

Newstalk
Newstalk

12.22 28 Nov 2014


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David Cameron has hinted that Britain could leave the European Union if other EU states object to tough new proposals to cut immigration.

The Prime Minister said he was "confident" of success in the renegotiation of the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a planned 2017 referendum.

His proposed changes include:

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  • Blocking EU migrants from claiming in-work benefits or getting social housing until they have been in the country for four years
  • Ending the practice of child benefit being paid to parents whose children live abroad
  • Stopping all benefits for unemployed migrants, and threatening to remove individuals if they are still out of work after six months
  • Tougher and longer re-entry bans for rough sleepers, beggars and fraudsters

In his speech at JCB headquarters in Staffordshire he warned that he will "rule nothing out" if other European states ignore British concerns.

Some have speculated that this could mean leading Britain out of the EU if his demands are not met.

He said welfare changes to cut migration from within the EU "significantly" will be an "absolute requirement" of a deal.

"If you elect me as Prime Minister in May, I will negotiate to reform the European Union, and Britain's relationship with it," he said.

"This issue of free movement will be a key part of that negotiation."

While promising a crackdown on migration to the UK, he said the idea of repatriating legal migrants to the UK was wrong, adding: "We should distrust those who sell the snake oil of simple solutions.

"I am extremely proud that together we have built successful multiple-racial democracy."

At one point during his speech, an alarm went off on the production line behind him.

Mr Cameron joked: "This has clearly set off alarm bells in the European Commission."

A European Commission spokesman said the proposals would be discussed "without drama".

Mr Cameron was speaking a day after official statistics showed net migration rising to 260,000 over the past year - 16,000 higher than when the coalition Government came to office.

He admitted that his policies had "not been enough" to meet the target of cutting overall numbers to the tens of thousands by 2015.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage twisted the knife on Twitter saying: "Mr Cameron says we should judge him by his record in Europe. We are, David. We are ... It's not good."


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