British Deputy Prime Minister Supports Cutting Benefits for Migrants

MOSCOW, November 26 (Sputnik) – The United Kingdom's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined a plan to restrict benefits for migrants coming to UK from other European Union Member states in an article published in the Financial Times.

"Our aim must be to return freedom of movement to its original intention: a right to work," Clegg wrote in the article published Tuesday.

Clegg suggested ending access to certain types of benefits for migrants who have worked in the UK for less than six months. "We should make sure that only migrants who have worked and contributed can receive the support. New jobseekers should not be eligible," he wrote, adding that only those who have worked full-time hours for minimum wage should have a right to apply for financial aid.

In his article, the UK deputy prime minister also restated his idea to prevent migrants from claiming child benefits for children living outside of the UK. "As a first step, we should pay the same rate as the country in which those children reside. In the UK it is about £80 a month, whereas in Poland it is less than half that," Clegg said.

According to the EuropeanVoice, Clegg will discuss his proposals with the German vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel later on Wednesday.

British Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to unveil his own proposals regarding benefits for new migrants later this week.

Ahead of the May 2015 national election in Britain, Cameron's Conservative party has announced it could limit immigration from other EU countries if re-elected. These plans have been criticized by EU officials as contradictory to the principle of freedom of movement.