Benefit ban for EU migrants

Migrants from eastern Europe will be "put out" of the country if they cannot find work, the Prime Minister warned today.

Tony Blair's hardline stance came as Home Secretary David Blunkett outlined new moves to be put in place to deal with people arriving in Britain from 1 May.

Mr Blair said residents from eight east European countries which are joining the EU - together with Malta and Cyprus - would only be allowed to stay in Britain if they could pay their own way.

They would not be allowed to milk the benefits system, he suggested. He said in a radio interview with BBC West Midlands: "If they can't support themselves, they will be put out of the country. We will be making it clear that you can come if you are coming to work and you have got a job to do, but you're not going to be able to claim benefits."

Mr Blunkett announced that new arrivals are to be banned from claiming benefits for two years and forced to register if they want to work. Plans to restrict access to council housing will also be drawn up, he said. "For two years and possibly longer we will require accession nat ionals to support themselves," he told the Commons. "If they fail to do so they will lose all rights to stay here and must return to their native country. The issue is on what basis people come to our country. Those who wish to find a job will be free to do so."

It will be up to employers to ensure new arrivals working for them are legally entitled to jobs, Mr Blunkett said.

The measures, announced in the Commons this afternoon, were agreed at a hastilyarranged meeting in Downing Street chaired by Mr Blair.

Critics had complained that Britain, along with Ireland, were the only countries among the 15 existing EU members to allow migrants f rom the new nat ions unfettered entry to work.

The Home Secretary hinted at deportation for those who fail to find work, but was accused by his Tory shadow David Davies of failing to work out whether such a move was allowed under European law.

Mr Blunkett said at the weekend that new figures this week would show the Government was "getting there" in tackling the issue of asylum seekers.