James Forsyth James Forsyth

It’s not just Ukip that’s changing Cameron’s mind about immigration

The return of the eurozone crisis has prompted some serious rethinking in No. 10

British Prime Minister David Cameron speaks at a press conference at the EU Headquarters on February 8, 2013 in Brussels, on the last day of a two-day European Union leaders summit. After 24 hours of talks lasting through the night, European Union leaders finally clinched a deal on the bloc's next 2014-2020 budget, summit chair and EU president Herman Van Rompuy said Friday. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) 
issue 25 October 2014

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[/audioplayer]It is easy to mock David Cameron on immigration. Under pressure from the public and from Ukip, he’s having to hot-foot it to a tougher position on the free movement of labour within the European Union. Ideas dismissed as unworkable only a few months ago are now on the table. But it’s not all political positioning. There really is a serious case for Britain to be treated differently from eurozone countries when it comes to freedom of movement.

Whoever ends up in government after the next election, Britain’s relationship with the EU is going to have to change. Why? Because Britain is one of only a handful of EU members that will never join the single currency. A few years ago, it looked as if several of the larger eastern European countries would also stay out. Now, however, they view membership of the euro as part of their defence against a resurgent Russia.

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