This in from Andrew Turner’s office, in their own words. Ed
The Island’s MP Andrew Turner has co-sponsored a bill which goes before the House of Commons today which seeks to limit immigration to the UK from the European Union.
It calls for would be EU migrants to have a job, sufficient funds to stop them claiming benefits and to be in good health with no criminal record before they are permitted to settle in the UK. The requirements are similar to immigration controls demanded by the USA and Australia.
Stricter measures imposed by Spain
All EU member states are bound by the 2004 EU Free Movement Directive. It was widely believed that this allowed all EU citizens the right to live and work anywhere in the EU, but since July, Spain has imposed stricter entrance requirements on EU nationals who wish to live in Spain.
The measures were imposed in response to a youth unemployment rate of nearly 50%.
Mr Turner said, “This Bill seeks to limit immigration from within the EU by varying existing legislation. I am afraid it does not have Government support so there is virtually no chance of it becoming law, but it will give MPs on all parties an opportunity to register their disquiet at the current situation. For example, Frank Field MP the former Labour Minister has also said we need to limit EU immigration.
“I am particularly concerned because in 2014 Bulgarians and Romanians will acquire the same rights as other EU citizens to come to the UK; that is an extra 29 million people.
“As a country we are facing unprecedented financial challenges and reforming the benefits system to help get many British people back into work; it seems obvious to me that somehow we must limit the number of non UK citizens who can get access to UK jobs and welfare payments by simply jumping on a plane or a ferry.”
Cuts in the EU budget
Mr Turner also confirmed that he is a signatory to amendments calling for real terms cuts in the EU budget and restoration of the full British budget rebate, both of which will also be debated today, saying;
“Brussels is demanding rises of 5% a year. At a time when all Government departments and local councils are looking to cut public spending that is clearly ridiculous. I fully accept the Prime Minister is in a difficult position – if he uses the British veto the decision would be made by qualified majority voting – and the UK would still be forced to cough up more. However, the EU needs to know that many MPs – and I am among them – will vigorously oppose their demands for ever more money from British taxpayers.
“It is a great pity that in 2005, the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair agreed to give up some of the British budget rebate. That decision cost this country an estimated £10 billion over the 2007-12 budget round.”
Image: gruntzooki under CC BY 2.0
