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Responding to David Cameron’s announcement today (Friday) that EU migrants will not be able to claim benefits for four years after arriving in the UK, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“The Prime Minister is taking a sledgehammer to a problem that he has exaggerated. People are coming to Britain to work. There is little or no evidence that benefits make a difference, so today’s announcement will have no impact on numbers. It might sound tough, but will only stoke up cynicism and conflict

Friday 28 November 2014

Responding to David Cameron’s announcement today (Friday) that EU migrants will not be able to claim benefits for four years after arriving in the UK, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“The Prime Minister is taking a sledgehammer to a problem that he has exaggerated. People are coming to Britain to work. There is little or no evidence that benefits make a difference, so today’s announcement will have no impact on numbers. It might sound tough, but will only stoke up cynicism and conflict.  

“We need a new approach based on ending the UK’s status as Europe’s exploitation capital, where the worst bosses use migrant workers to undermine rights and wages.

“If the government was serious about reducing benefit spending, it should be doing something about the poor pay and high rents that drive up the benefits bill for those in work.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen   T: 020 7467 1388    M: 07778 158175   E: media@tuc.org.uk
Tim Nichols   T: 020 7467 1337   M: 07876 452902  E: tnichols@tuc.org.uk
Clare Santry   T: 020 7467 1372    M: 07717 531150   E: csantry@tuc.org.uk

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