Prime Minister David Cameron wants to introduce a four year waiting period for European Union migrants to have access to housing benefits or tax credits in order to deter them from coming to the UK. This, however, could mean breaching EU laws. So, the Tory response is to roll it out to British people too.
In the run up to the May general election, the Conservative manifesto pledged to stop EU migrants from claiming tax benefits or child benefits until they had lived in the country for four years as part of a shake-up of the UK membership with the EU.
Osborne's plan to stop EU #Migrants getting UK #benefits — "…STOP ALL BENEFITS…SIMPLES" #osbornelogic #torylogic pic.twitter.com/YwFI2Mh3qC
— TUTPLUG (@TUTPLUG) August 11, 2015
But it's since emerged that targeting migrants alone would breach laws set by Brussels and constitute "direct discrimination". And if the UK implemented such a rule, it would have to make it applicable to Britons aged 18-22 — claiming the same benefits.
This means in order for the government to renegotiate the UK's membership of the EU, it must also penalize people living in Britain.
So, the only legal way to stop scrounging immigrants from abusing UK benefits, is to deprive our own citizens of benefits? #Brexit
— Mick Eade (@mickthebus48) August 11, 2015
Documents seen by British media state that:
"Imposing additional requirements on EU workers that do not apply to a member state's own workers constitutes direct discrimination which is prohibited under current EU law."
Paying the Price for Cameron's Seven Point Plan
Among David Cameron's plans to renegotiate Britain's EU membership is to make European Union job seekers leave after six months, if they failed to find a job — freezing access to benefits.
Plans also include powers flowing away from Brussels, not always to it, and a 'red card' for national parliaments to work together to block unwanted European legislation; less interference from European institutions, including the European Court of Human Rights and businesses liberated from 'red tape', as well as greater free trade with North America and Asia.
My #Cameron #immigration #immigrationaction @Telegraph cartoon pic.twitter.com/lObBvtnElN
— Christian Adams (@Adamstoon1) August 10, 2015
David Cameron also insists plans must be in place to prevent vast migrations across the continent and ensure that Britain is no longer subject to the concept of an "ever closer union," as enshrined in the treaty signed by every member state.
So plans to penalize British people claiming benefits as well as EU migrants seem plausible. The government has already announced plans to wipe out the automatic entitlement to housing benefit for 18 to 21 year olds. So, under these new rules the same cohort would have to wait for four years to gain access other benefits.
The government should calm down! Stopping UK 18-22 yr olds from claiming benefits when they're struggling with high rents,low wages is crazy
— Matthew Severn (@Matt_Severn) August 11, 2015
A Perfect Tory Policy — Anti-Immigration and an Anti-Welfare State
According to a government spokesperson:
"We've already taken action to protect the benefits system and ensure that EU migrants come to this county for the right reasons and to contribute to the economy."
"Now we're focused on renegotiating our relationship with Europe and getting a better deal for Britons, and we won't speculate on other options."
But it appears to be a better deal for Conservative voters — not everyone in Britain. Cameron has promised to hold and In/Out referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union before the end of 2017.
Only Cyprus and Greece feel less optimistic than the UK about the future of the EU http://t.co/Dbh4fKmv0n #Brexit pic.twitter.com/LjQvLklrAZ
— Kantar (@Kantar) August 11, 2015
