LONDON: Limiting the number of European Union citizens who are allowed to work in Britain is among proposals to curb immigration being looked at by the government, Defence Minister Michael Fallon said yesterday.
Fallon, whose governing Conservatives are coming under pressure to harden their line on immigration due to the rise in popularity of the anti-EU UK Independence Party, said that parts of Britain felt “under siege” from an influx of migrant workers.
Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to renegotiate Britain’s ties with the EU ahead of a referendum on membership if he wins a 2015 election, and is due to set out in the coming weeks plans for tackling immigration.
“We are looking at the numbers particularly, is it right to allow huge numbers to come in particular sectors, in particular areas of the country without any kind of restraint whatsoever?,” Fallon told Sky News.
Limiting National Insurance numbers, required to work in Britain, was one idea being looked at, he said. Fallon highlighted the east of England as an area which is receiving many immigrants, but he did not specify which sectors the government was focussed on. A newspaper report last week said Cameron wanted to restrict low-skilled EU migrants.
Many Conservatives fear UKIP, which wants sharply lower immigration and a British EU exit, threatens their re-election chances. It has poached two of Cameron’s lawmakers, this month winning its first elected seat in Britain’s parliament and is on track to win a second in November. Reuters
