PM says government to introduce rules within coming weeks to limit access to benefits and the health service
PM David Cameron told ITV's Daybreak programme that the government intends to bring forward measures in the next few weeks to limit immigrants' access to benefits and the health service, the Financial Times reported yesterday.
According to the FT, Cameron said that the government would introduce rules "to make sure that when people come here they are not coming for the health service or the benefit system or anything else".
The changes were promised in the "coming weeks".
The FT says that Cameron believes the public is frustrated with the slow pace of change on immigration policy.
Meanwhile, Labour's Diane Abbott earlier warned that her party should not get involved in "dog whistle" politics on immigration.
The Guardian quoted Abbot as saying: "The rise of Ukip has made people panicky about immigration but the truth is that the fear of immigration is just that – it is fear. The more immigrants who live in your area the less likely you are to worry about it."
"As a party we need to be clear that there is a danger of a downward spiral. If we panic about Ukip and feel over-anxious about reassuring people about immigration, there is a danger of a downward spiral."