Legal News
Senior Tory backs limit on access to social housing for new migrants (30 October 2014)
Date: 30/10/2014
Former Foreign Secretary William Hague – who became leader of the House of Commons in a Cabinet reshuffle – has responded to claims by the Mayor of Calais that for migrants waiting to cross the UK, the generous welfare system in Britain makes it “El Dorado”.
Mayor of Calais Natacha Bouchart spoke out as it was revealed 2,500 refugees are waiting at Calais to make the journey to Britain in lorries crossing the Channel.
Kent online reports that Mr Hague was on walkabout in Chatham, Kent with Conservative candidate Kelly Tolhurst, when he said that the issue of immigration would be a major focus in the renegotiation of Britain’s membership of the EU.
Mr Hague is also backing a suggestion by Kelly Tolhurst that people should only become eligible for social housing once they have lived in an area for five years.
Responding to Ms Bouchart’s comments, however, Mr Hague outlined the government’s achievements on immigration since coming to power, including limiting access to welfare benefits for migrants who have just arrived in Britain:
“It is the Conservative Party that has brought these things under control – we brought in the rule that migrants cannot claim Jobseeker’s Allowance for three months and you can only get it for three months.
"And we have introduced a benefit cap – all of which Labour opposed.
"We do not deny that we have got more to do. The issue of immigration will have to be a big issue in our renegotiation of our membership of the EU."
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