UK plans to curb immigration

Britain anti-immigrant sentiment is at its peak, both among the public and in the realm of politics.

PM David Cameron has recently highlighted his intention of restricting overall numbers of immigrants  from the EU countries and deport those unable to support themselves after three months.

During the last EU summit, however, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the EU principles, including the freedom of movement one, are not negotiable.

She tried to convince Mr Cameron not to put limits on the number of EU citizens allowed to work in Britain. That would be a point of no return toward the EU exit door.

Previous President of the European Commission Mr Barroso also warned that UK plans to curb immigration would undermine the equal status of EU citizens, during  a speech held in London when he was still in office.

However, immigration in Britain is not a so recent priority. The country's universally accessible health and welfare services have always attracted migrants from all walks of life. 

It does not have to happen at the expense of the Welfare State, though.

Data from the Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM) revealed that immigrants contributed 34 per cent more in revenues than they received in state expenditures over the decade from 2001 to 2011.

Another study on immigrants from the 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004, highlighted that they contributed more to the UK than they took out in public services.

Still, data released from the Migration Observatory and Ipsos Mori and related to a set of surveys from the past decades, show that a steady majority of Britons think the immigration rate is too high, regardless of actual numbers. Also, cultural concerns are secondary to economic ones.

Last week  a senior cabinet minister has claimed some towns in the UK are being swamped by immigrants. Downing Street intervened later, claiming Mr Fallon had chosen the wrong words.