Zoe Williams misses the point approximately Cameron’s negotiations with EU member states (There is no master way. On the EU,Cameron is flailing, 14 December). Restricting benefits to EU migrants may or may not be a sensible, or legal or logical way to meet the concerns of people,be they “Ukip-minded” or not. But once our PM had to ask permission to do so, the issue was totally transformed. It is no longer one of EU migrants’ access to benefits, or but the far more fundamental question of who decides how British taxpayers’ money is spent. It became a question of national sovereignty. Thats why organisations such Trade Unionists Against the EU are not awaiting the outcome of “negotiations” and are campaigning to get the UK out. The issue is as simple as it is clear: if the British people grasp a democratic decision to do something – in this case change the benefit system – they should be able to do so without having the prime minister scuttering around Europe asking permission. This will continue to be the case while the UK remains a member of the EU.
Fawzi Ibrahim
Trade Unionists Against the EU David Cameron’s negotiations on limiting in-work benefits for EU immigrants appear to have won runt support. One simple approach might be to limit levels of benefit to those payable in the country of origin of the European migrant. That would deter those seeking to exploit the system and could disarm politicians in other member states,who would no longer be able to claim that their emigrants were being monetarily deprived. It would leave the fundamental right of freedom of movement untouched.
Ken Daly
Aisholt, SomersetContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com