UK: Jobless migrants 'will be thrown out'

icNewcastle ^ | Februari 23 2004

[knighthawk]

Migrants from new EU states who fail to find work in the UK will be thrown out of the country, Prime Minister Tony Blair.

He was speaking ahead of Home Secretary David Blunkett's announcement of measures to deal with an expected influx of migrants from the 10 countries from eastern Europe and the Mediterranean when they join the EU in May.

The package is expected to include a work permit system and restrictions on recent migrants' eligibility for welfare benefits.

Mr Blair had a blunt message on the expected migrants, telling BBC West Midlands: "If they can't support themselves, they will be put out of the country."

Ministers were accused today of over-reacting to press headlines warning of a massive flood of so-called "benefit tourists".

The chief executive of the Immigration Advisory Service, Keith Best, insisted existing laws were sufficient to protect the welfare system from scroungers.

Ministers agreed last week to draw up plans to deal with the issue amid widespread fears that floods of migrants will arrive in the UK when countries including Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic join the EU in May.

Mr Blunkett has made clear that Britain will not join other countries - such as France and Germany - in seeking to stop people coming to work in the UK.

Mr Best, whose organisation employs 300 people to give independent immigration legal advice, said it would be "unenforceable" to impose any work permit restriction.

All EU citizens have the right to remain and seek work unless officials can prove their residence is "not conducive to the public good", he said.

[knighthawk]

Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[EggsAckley]

"Benefit Tourists." How very dignified those Brits are. Out west we call them "Welfare Whores."

[2banana]

Mr Blair had a blunt message on the expected migrants, telling BBC West Midlands: "If they can't support themselves, they will be put out of the country."

I hope prez Bush is listening...

[Kenny Bunk]

Unsaid:

We are actually going to encourage European immigration so that we may begin to lessen the number of .... mmm shall we say, non-europeans?

You see chaps, if we are this tough on white people, we shall have to be equally tough on the others. Wouldn't be fair otherwise. Not cricket.

[knighthawk]

The EU raises the drawbridge

All but one of the existing 15 EU member states are planning to limit the flow of migrants from countries joining on 1 May. Click on the map below to find out what restrictions are in store, and for how long.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3513889.stm

[TXBSAFH]

I to hope GWB is listening.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Mr Blair had a blunt message on the expected migrants, telling BBC West Midlands: "If they can't support themselves, they will be put out of the country."

Tony Blair for President? Blair-Tancredo!

[txdoda]

I hope prez Bush is listening...

He sure needs to be !!

I also just read where the Sauds have passed new laws to reduce their foreign workforce also.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

"If they can't support themselves, they will be put out of the country."

A Laborite can say this, and the GOP can't come close to offering a concise policy?

[comebacknewt]

Blair's got my vote.

[lelio]

"Benefit Tourists." How very dignified those Brits are. Out west we call them "Welfare Whores."

And they're looking to kick them out of the country, while we are looking to extend some quasi legal status. Bizarre!

[facedown]

bump

[Recovering_Democrat]

Migrants from new EU states who fail to find work in the UK will be thrown out of the country, Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Hmm. Maybe the Europeans do have some good ideas...;-)

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

"Benefit Tourists." How very dignified those Brits are. Out west we call them "Welfare Whores."

Or Dole Bludgers in Australia...

[txdoda]

bttt.....

[txdoda]

your ping list might be interested in this thread & the following link.

"Migrants from new EU states who fail to find work in the UK will be thrown out of the country, Prime Minister Tony Blair."


More info Re: "The EU raises the drawbridge"

All but one of the existing 15 EU member states are planning to limit the flow of migrants from countries joining on 1 May. Click on the map below to find out what restrictions are in store, and for how long.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3513889.stm

[Missouri]

Ping

Good story.

[txdoda]

Good story.

Interesting that most EU thought to limit the amounts of migrants & the years they could work in other countries, in their 'Fair Trade' deals.

Scary to think WHERE all these 'displaced' immigrants plan to seek work in a few years.

The USA starts a years long WOT, & many other countries start securing their borders & limiting immigration.........WILL WE EVER LEARN ??

[FITZ]

We are actually going to encourage European immigration so that we may begin to lessen the number of .... mmm shall we say, non-europeans?

How'd you pull that out of this? Or are you assuming the "welfare tourists" means non-europeans??? I just read they don't want welfare moochers --- I didn't see anything was specified past that.