The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Immigration and the EU: Tory ministers play with fire

All parties know that open borders are required to stay in the single European market. But there is

By Rafael Behr Published 26 May 2012 10:49

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, has told the Daily Telegraph that contingency planning is under way to address the prospect of a surge in immigration from crisis-stricken countries (chiefly Greece) in the event that the single currency collapses or members are forced to leave.

EU states are not supposed to restrict movement of people within the union (with some “transitional controls” applied to relatively new members). The single labour market is an essential component of the whole project to create a unified trading space. Some tightening of controls is permitted in “exceptional” circumstances and Britain is not a signatory to the Schengen accord that waives border checks between most continental EU members.

Still, a unilateral imposition of visas and other restrictions on Greek or Portuguese workers coming to the UK would be an irregular and, indeed, extraordinary contravention of the spirit of the European economic cooperation. That isn’t to say it wouldn’t be popular.

The role that the European single labour market plays in Britain’s constantly anxious debate about immigration is a peculiar one. It substantially limits the capacity of UK governments to pre-determine the number of foreign nationals working in the UK; it also offers British citizens many lucrative opportunities to live and work elsewhere in Europe. Indeed, that is the point – mutual advantage for all EU workers.

But politicians from all parties hate discussing the free movement of labour because they are all, in theory, signed up to the single market project. There has always been some nervousness in Westminster about broaching the subject for fear that wary and sceptical acceptance of Britain’s EU membership would drain away completely it were being portrayed as the engine of mass immigration. The consequence of this squeamishness is nonsensical policies and pronouncements around the whole immigration topic: Gordon Brown’s meaningless pledge of “British jobs for British workers”; the coalition’s immigration “cap” that only applies to non-EU nationals.

There are signs, as hostility and anxiety around the EU grow, that Conservatives are getting ready to be a little bit more explicit and aggressive on this subject. Employment minister Chris Grayling told an audience at an event run by the ConservativeHome website last week that the Tories should be more forthright in mobilising fear of immigration in their anti-Brussels message:

It’s much easier to explain to a voter that we are unhappy with what the EU is doing because, for example, it wants us to allow people to come here and settle and be able to access our benefit system without the safeguards that we have in place today. That’s something everyone can understand.

It is not a particularly attractive political proposition or even a very honest one given the parallel benefits that Britain gets from the single market. But it has the potential to be crudely, nastily effective.

Tags: Eurocrisis Tories & Europe Theresa May Chris Grayling

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20 comments

Fri, 2012-07-20 11:42 — Goji (not verified)

Nice article..... interesting.
Goji Goji fructe goji

Wed, 2012-07-11 20:06 — ahmadnasr89

Sun, 2012-05-27 13:46 — Fraziel1

The left really are a disgrace. They have a name for everyone that has an opinion different from theirs. If you don't agree with radical feminism you are a mysoginist, if you oppose the EU you are a xenophobe, if you oppose mass immigration you are a racist,If you have concerns about extremist Islam you are an islamaphobe.

No wonder we can't have proper debates as the left stifle it at every turn. When oh when are they going to listen to public opinion and wake up to the fact that their fist concern should be for British people who are sick and tired of billions in benefits being paid out to immigrants ( or to give them their proper term, economic migrants) . In what other country can a family of 6 turn up from Africa, for example, and within a matter of months be receiving the equivalent of a 50k a year salary in benefits? it has to stop.

people are fed up too with their wages being driven down by immigration and the extra competition in an already difficult jobs market, although to be fair many immigrants never contribute anything and are not really in the job market. I hope the tories make as much as they can out of this and ignore the elitist chattering class lefties and liberals who are so hopelessly out of touch with how ordinary people feel.

Anthony (Little Englander and Proud)'s picture

Sun, 2012-05-27 17:07 — Anthony (Little Englander and Proud) (not verified)

Spot on.

Sun, 2012-05-27 11:06 — Wilbert Feines (not verified)

This racist posturing will only serve to discourage investment in Britain. With over half of City workers coming from other EU states this will encourage them to leave the UK for more tolerant climes.. Also Greeks have traditionally been major investors in the UK, worth billions a year. This money will be lost to the UK. This government is characterised by a total lack of "joined-up thinking" . It has the fatal flaws of arrogance, immaturity, inexperience and a lack of proper training and education in governance and public administration. It has brought shame to Britain.

Mon, 2012-05-28 07:56 — rain (not verified)

"This racist posturing” This isn't about racism but economics, despite all the talk about Greek workers, it is important to understand that the EU is not where the real numbers of immigrants are coming from. For nearly ten years non EU immigration has been running at about 300,000 a year but only 100,000 have been leaving. This can and must be addressed by changes in the immigration policy. Net migration accounts for two thirds of the population growth that is placing immense pressure on our public services at a time of financial stringency. Take social housing the Labour MP Frank Field challenged the Housing Minister, Grant Shapps MP, on the new figures showing that 20 per cent of social housing in London has been allocated to non-British nationals. Figures obtained from the Office of National Statistics show that foreign national families live in over 350,000 council and housing association properties in the capital while British nationals occupy 1.5 million. That is just under 20% of the entire stock of social homes which are occupied by those who have not been here long enough to obtain British nationality or have not bothered to do so. At a time of scarce social housing is this acceptable?

Sun, 2012-05-27 17:04 — Anthony (Little Englander and Proud) (not verified)

Bo-Ho , pull yourself together mate !! Jeez.

Sun, 2012-05-27 00:44 — Anthony (Little Englander and Proud) (not verified)

This coming from Rafael Behr who has been one of the Euros biggest girly cheerleader, his fanaticism almost makes emperor Herman and Barroso seem sane.

I would suggest Rafael crams as many of theses Greeks if they come, in his house, back garden and shed, then finally when hes broke and can no longer keep them and his house, back garden and shed, just to keep in the spirit of things we can nationalise all three.

....... living the European dream happily ever after.

Sat, 2012-05-26 22:01 — rob russ (not verified)

She needs to watch out. If she shuts the door to people coming in she will be shutting it to people with skills that this country needs. Plus if she stops too many coming in she will drive people like me (born and bred in uk but thinking its more racist every day !!!), taxpayer for 33 years, out of this place. I will take my pension with me and another country will get the benefit of me spending my money.
This country has had immigrants arriving for 2000 years plus. There is nothing new in people coming into the uk. In the end it adds to the character of a country and makes it a better place.

Sat, 2012-05-26 22:32 — Anthony (Little Englander and Proud) (not verified)

Maybe then one of the 2.5 million already without a job can have yours instead of letting more people in all looking for work.

Sat, 2012-05-26 22:27 — Anthony (Little Englander and Proud) (not verified)

See ya, and good riddance !!!

Sat, 2012-05-26 19:26 — Tesco Shelf Stacker (not verified)

Don't know why you're getting you're knickers in a twist about this. May knows there is very little she can do about it - Westminster no longer holds much power - its just a talking shop for career politicians to climb the greasy political pole - the EU basically runs Britain now. Everything from law to energy to foreign policy. We don't control our borders no matter what the treasonous political class tell you. Our politicians get their orders from Brussels and are there simply to perform for the proles - distract them ever discovering just how much the EU controls Britain now - make it look as though they run things from the House of Commons when they ain't running sh*t. This is just Tories looking tough on immigration - to try and quieten those who see there country as a soft touch for immigrants. They know they can't do anything really - so they play the tough role to get the headlines they want and hopefully quieten those who have seen their villages, towns and cities dramatically change overnight due to EU's open borders policy that is causing public concern about mass uncontrolled immigration into the UK. This is all smoke and mirrors basically. Labour would be doing exactly the same if they were in power. You don't really think Labour would be doing things differently to the Tories do you? LOL

You know what they say - if you can't fight wear a big hat.

Thats what May is doing ... she's wearing a big hat. lol End of ...

Sat, 2012-05-26 22:30 — Anthony (Little Englander and Proud) (not verified)

Hear, Hear .

Sat, 2012-05-26 17:35 — Gringo_h (not verified)

The Greeks are good people.

I'd rather let them into the Country than any more Islamofascists.

Sat, 2012-05-26 16:21 — cabin boy2 (not verified)

The Council of Europe has long recognised that the large movements of peoples will present many problems,asylum seekers,immigrants,citizens looking for employment in other countries may all encounter difficulties themselves and present problems for the hosts.After the collapse of the currencies within the EU this is highlighted.In Ireland and the Netherland workers flocked there in the good times and now find themselves left high and dry -unable to return and in some cases without the necessary paperwork.
The Council was formed in the post war era in order to prevent more conflicts from descending into violence and featured the Chuchillian motive Jaw,Jaw rather than War.War.Sadly it could not prevent the Serbo/Croat disaster.
GB is currently chair of the organisation and one of the original ten States.Now there are 47 and perhaps it is less manageable but the cause is altogether worthwhile.
At regular intervals each State is supposed to report back to say whether there has been any progress made in the key question of treatment of minorities.Is there a strategy ?
Is there a policy of inclusion -or on the contrary-one of discrimination ?
The former Human Rights commissioner in one of his last official acts scholded Eric Pickles for Britain's mistreatment of the residents of Dale Farm in evicting them using maximum force saying this was an utter disgrace.

Sat, 2012-05-26 15:16 — Ciaran Goggins

Who had the bright idea of allowing 2 million Poles here overnight with no provision for education, housing, medicine? The "Full Up" sign should have gone up long ago, many of the refugees I meet are economic migrants.

Sat, 2012-05-26 14:14 — David edwards (not verified)

We cant afford to look after ourselves let alone thousands of greeks.We need to get tough I think the rules now do not apply as the greek government are not sticking to them so why should we.CLOSE THE GATES NOW!

Sat, 2012-05-26 12:59 — Polittiscribe (not verified)

As you say, 'Some tightening of controls is permitted in “exceptional” circumstances'. How often does the currency which Europe's political class chose to join, end up imploding? Fairly exceptionally. Stop trying to make political points and start getting real. This is by far the greatest economic crisis of our lifetimes. Exceptional measures will be needed.

Sat, 2012-05-26 11:49 — Sue Jameson (not verified)

It's not going to happen. Just another bit of spin to keep the proles happy.

Sat, 2012-05-26 11:25 — Fergus Pickering (not verified)

Open borders are required, are they? Let's see if they are required. I think they will be as required as, say, French compliance with EU rulings. In other words, not required at all.